
Class 



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5 53 



RECOMMEJYnJITIOJYS 

OF THE FOLLOWING WORK. 



[Extract from the Proceedings of the Synod of the German Reformed 
Church of Pennsylvania and adjoining States, of September, 1832.] 

" Unanimously Resolved, That we cordially recommend this excellent 
work to all the members of our congregations, and pledge ourselves to use 
our best efforts to promote its general circulation." 

[From the Lutheran Observer, of Baltimore, Aug. 1835.] 
" ' Heavenly Incense, or Christian's Companion.' — This admirable 
Prayer Book may be had by application to the editor of this paper. The 
print is very large and distinct, so that the aged and others, whose sight is 
very weak, may read it with ease ; and none can use it with an upright 
heart, without benefit." 

[From the Rev. John Ludlow, D. D., Provost of the University of Penn- 
sylvania.'] 

" Philadelphia,. Oct. 11th, 1837. 

Rev. and Dear Sir : — I received yours of the 9th inst, in which you 
request an expression of my opinion in regard to a work recently published 
by yourself, called ' Heavenly Incense.' I have only to reiterate what I 
have frequently expressed to you in private, that I have been much edified 
by it myself, and I am sure its extensive circulation, with the Divine bless- 
ing, will srreatlv tend to promote a spirit of pure and serious devotion. 

Yours, truly, JOHN LUDLOW. 

Rev. J. S. Ebaugh." 

[From the Rev. William R. Bogardus, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch 

Church, of Aquae kanonk, N. J.] 
M To all whom it may concern : 

I consider the book entitled ' Heavenly Incense,' compiled by the Rev. 
J. S. Ebaugh, to be a precious treasure in any family. I am now in pos- 
session of the book, have perused it, and can speak of its merits from per- 
sonal knowledge. I should be very unwilling to have my family deprived 
of it, and could wish that it had a place in every family in my parish. It 
would be a precious gift for parents to present to their children who are 
settled in life. WM. R. BOGARDUS. 

Aquackanonck, July 10th, 1838." 

[From the Retfds Thomas De Witt, D. D. ; John Knox, D. D. ; and Wm. 

C. Brownlee, D. D. ; Pastors of the Collegiate Ref Dutch Churches, 

New-York.'] 

The work entitled " Heavenly Incense," compiled by Rev. Mr. Ebaugh, 
and principally translated from the devotional work of Zollikoffer, so long 
and greatly esteemed among the pious in Germany — I highly value. I shall 
be pleased to hear of its extensive circulation in Christian families, assured 
that its use will prove refreshing and edifying to the devout mind. 

THOMAS DE WITT. 

New-York, 20th Feb. 1839. 

I concur in the above estimate of the work, " Heavenly Incense." 

JOHN KNOX. 

I fully concur in the above recommendations. 

W. C. BROWNLEE. 



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A 

NEWLY OPENED TREASURY 

OF 

HEAVENLY INCENSE; 

OR 

CHRISTIAN'S COMPANION, 

CONTAINING 

INSTRUCTIONS AND DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

APPLICABLE TO ALL PERSONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE. 

TRANSLATED AND COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM THE CELEBRATED WORK ON THESE 

SUBJECTS/OF THE 

. -/; 2 
REV. JOHN ZOLLIKOFFER, 

OF HERISAU IN EUROPE. 

£ TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED THREE CELEBRATED 

~ SERMONS, 

BY THE LATE REV. JOHN M. MASON, D. D. 

AND 

REV. ALEXANDER M'CLELLAND D. D. 

% . JS'bw Professor in the Theological Seminary in Neio Brunswick, N. J. 



BY JOHN S.JEBAUGH, V. D. M. 



In every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God." — PhiKppians iv. 6. 



Sixth Edition, 

NEW- YORK: 
PRINTED BY MARTIN, LAMBERT 6c Co. 



1839. 



■$A 



[ts* 



^4 , 



„ a 



A 



The Library 
of Congress 

washington 



Entered according to act of Congress on the 29th of January, 1833, by John S, 
Ebaugh, in the Clerk's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



STEKEOirPrD BT SMITH & VALEVHWE. I*EW-YOKK. 



FOLLOWING WORK, 



IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE 



REV. AL.EXAJVIXER, M'CLELIiAHTD, D. D. 



Professor in the Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, JV*. Jersey^ 



AS A TOKEN OF THE 



UNDIMINISHED AND PROFOUND ESTEEM 



IK WHICH HE HAS LONG BEEN HELD 



BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, 



AND BROTHER, 



THE COMPILER. 



PREFACE. 



The almost unparalleled sale* and 
extensive usefulness of the following 
Standard TWorfc on Practical Piety, 
has indneed the publisher to present to 
the Christian Community, a seeond, 
much enlarged, revised and stereotyped 
Edition. To the present Edition are 
prefixed three of the most profound, 
original, and masterly sermons of the 
present Age. The first is " The JMessi- 
ah's Throne $" the second is, "*& Plea 
for a Standing ^Ministry and the 
third is, "d Vindication of the Spirit 
of the present tlge." 

As these are subjects of the utmost 
importance to mankind, considered as 
Candidates for Death, Judgement, and 
Eternity, I hare republished them, as 
calculated under the blessing of Ood, 
to pour in a flood of light upon the 

* There have frequently been three, four, and five and 
as high as six and seven copies of this work sold in a 
family, and upwards of seven hundred in one County in 
Pennsylvania. 

1 



PREFACE. 



mind, warm the affections of the soul, 
and thus prepare us to approach a 
throne of Grace, in order to wrestle 
with God in supplication and prayer, 
that he may soon beget to himself uni- 
versal honour and glory, in accom- 
plishing the great and glorious things 
set forth in these splendid productions* 

In reference to the other matter con- 
tained in this volume, (which has been 
considered by thousands of the most 
pious and devoted followers of Christ, 
next in value to their Bible, ever since its 
first publication in German, about one 
hundred and fifty years ago,) I remark, 
that the instructions are so scriptural 
and practical ; the Hymns so inspiring. 
and the devotional exercises breathe 
forth such an ardent spirit of humble 
piety and gratitude, as unequivocally 
evince that the Authors of them were 
deeply impressed with a consciousness 
of God's special and overruling provi- 
dence, guardian protection and paren- 
tal benevolence. The glorious perfec- 
tions of Jehovah are acknowledged 
with humble reverence ; whilst the 
name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ, is magnified and praised in 
strains of liveliest and most heartfelt 
gratitude. 

As secret scrutiny into our own 
hearts, and private meditations, are 
the special and only true means (under 



PREFACE. 7 

the divine blessing:) of arriving at a 
correct knowledge of ourselves, which 
ever precede greater attainments in 
the Christian l<ife 5 I venture to assert, 
that no one can inake these devotions 
a part of his daily religious exercises, 
without feeling his imperfections, and 
endeavouring to reform the whole of 
his Life and Conduct. 

In addition to what has already been 
said in commendation of this Work, I 
would only publish two Resolutions 
passed by the " Synod of the German 
Reformed Church of Pennsylvania 
and adjacent States," as placed in their 
Minutes of Sept. 1832 and Sept. 1835, 
which are in substance as follows : " A 
Prospectus to publish, on subscription, 
a new Edition of Zollikoffer's Prayer 
Book, &c."' was laid before Synod, in 
order to obtain the views of this Rev. 
Body relative to this Publication ; 
"therefore unanimously resolved, that 
we cordially recommend this excellent 
Work to all the members of our congre* 
gations, and pledge ourselves to use our 
best efforts to promote its general circu* 
lation." And again, " unanimously re* 
solved, that the members of this Synod 
use their best efforts to introduce the 
abovementioned Work into every family, 
where it is practicable, in aid of the 
Home JfMissionary Cause." 

And in fine, it is to be devoutly wished, 



8 PREFACE. 

that books of this character and merit 
were more generally multiplied, and 
circulated throughout our highly pri- 
vileged country 9 for the advancement 
of correct morals and pure and unde- 
nted religion. That that Crod who 
is the Hearer and the Answerer oi 
Prayer, may accompany this effort to 
promote his honour and glory in the 
advancement of the best interests of 
immortal souls, is the sincere and fer- 
vent prayer of your sincere friend and 

brother, 

JOHN S. EBA1JGH. 

Carlisle, July 1, 1836. 



SERMON, 

BY JOHN M. MASON, D.D., 

PREACHED BEFORE THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, IN 1802. 



MESSIAH'S THRONE, 
HEB. I. 8. 

JBut unto the Son, he saith, Thy Throne^ 
O God. is foretier and ever. 

In the all-important argument which, 
occupies thi§ epistle, Paul assumes, 
what the believing Hebrews had al- 
ready professed, that Jesus of Nazareth 
is the true Messiah. To prepare them 
for the consequences of their own prin- 
ciple ; a principle involving nothing* 
less than the abolition of their tew, the 
subversion of their state, the ruin of 
their city, the final extinction of their 
carnal hopes, he leads them to the doc- 
trine of their Medeemer's person in or- 
der to explain the nature of his offices, 
to evince the value of his spiritual sal- 
vation, and to show, in both, the accom- 
plishment of their economy which was 
now ready to vanish Hway* Under no 
apprehension of betraying the unwary 
into idolatrous homage, by giving to 
the JLord Jesus greater glory than is due 
unto his name, the apostle sets out with 



10 Messiah's throne. 

ascribing to liim excellence and attri* 
butes which belong to no creature* 
Creatures of most elevated rank are 
introduced % but it is to display, by con- 
trast, tlte pre-eminence of If im who is 
the brightness of the Father's glory, and 
the express image of his person* Angels 
are great in might and in dignity ; but 
unto them hath he not put in subjection 
the world to come. Unto which of them 
said he, at any time* Thou art my son t 
To wMcli of them, Sit thou at my right 
hand f He saith, they are spirits, minis* 
tering spirits, sent forth to minister unto 
than who are the heirs of salvation* But 
unto the Son, in a style which annihi- 
lates competition and comparison? 
unto the Son he saith, thy throne, © God* 
is forever and ever* 

^Brethren, if the majesty of Jesus is the 
subject which the Holy ©host selected 
for the encouragement and consolation 
of his people, when he was shaking the 
earth and the heavens, and diffusing 
his gospel amoiag tl^e nations ; can it be 
otherwise than suitable and precious 
to us on this occasion ? Shall it not ex- 
pand our views, and warm our hearts, 
and nerve our arm, in our efforts to ex- 
alt his faine ? ILet me implore, then, the 
aid of your prayers 5 but far more im- 
portunately the aids of his own Spirit, 
while I speak of the things which con- 
cern the King : those great things con- 



Messiah's throne. 11 

tained in the text— his personal glory 
— his sovereign rule. 

I. His personal glory shines forth in 
the name by whieh he is revealed; a 
name above every name, thy throne — O 
God! 

To the single eye nothing can be more 
evident, in the 

First place, than that the Holy Ghost 
here asserts the essential deity of our 
JLord Jesus Christ. Of his enemies, 
whom he will make his footstool, some 
have, indeed, controverted this posi- 
tion, and endeavoured to blot out the 
text from the catalogue of his witnesses. 
Instead of 'thy throne, O God, they would 
compel us, by a perversion of phrase- 
ology, of figure, and of sense, to read, 
" God is thy throne ;" converting the 
great and dreadful God into a symbol 
of authority in one of his own crea- 
tures. The scriptures, it seems, may 
utter contradictions or impiety, but the 
divinity of the Son they shall not attest. 
The crown, however, which "flour- 
ishes on his head," is not to be torn 
away ; nor the anchor of our hope to 
be wrested from us, hy the rude hand 
of licentious criticism. 

I cannot find, in the lively oracles, a 
single distinctive mark of deity which 
is not applied, without reserve or limi- 
tation, to the only begotten Son. •Ill 
things whatsoever the Father hath, are 



12 Messiah's throne. 

his. Who is that mysterious Word, 
that was in the Beginning, with God t 
Who is the •tllpha and Omega, the be* 
ginning and the ending, the first and the 
last, the •llmightyf Who is he that 
knows what is in man, because he 
searches the deep and dark recesses ot 
the heart? Who is the Omnipresent, 
that has promised, W*herever two or 
three are gatheretl together in my name, 
there am J in the midst of them f the light 
of whose countenance is, at the same 
moment, the joy of heaven and the sal- 
vation of earth ? who is incircled by the 
seraphim on high, and walks in the 
midst of the golden candlesticks f who is 
in this assembly ? in all the assemblies 
of his people ? in every worshiping* 
family ? in every closet of prayer ? in 
every holy heart? W*hose hands have 
stretched out the heavens and laid the 
foundations of the earth f Jf*ho hath re- 
plenished them with inhabitants, and 
garnished them with beauty, having 
created all things that are in both, 
visible and invisible, whether they be 
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, 
or powers f By whom do all things con* 
sist ? Who is the Governor among the 
nations, having on his vesture and on his 
thigh a name written, King of kings and 
JLord of lords. Whom is it the Father's 
will that all men should honor even as 
they honor himself? Whom has he com- 



Messiah's throne 13 

mantled his angels to worship ? whom 
to obey? Before whom do the devils 
tremble? Who is qualified to redeem 

millions of sinners from the wrath to 
come, and preserve them, foy his grace, 
to his everlasting kingdom ? Who rais- 
eth the dead, having' life in himself, to 
quicken whom he will, so that at his 
voice, all who are in them 9 graves shall 
come forth / — and death and hell surren- 
der their numerous and forgotten cap- 
tives ? Who shall weigh, in the balance 
of judgment, the destinies of angels 
and men? dispose of the thrones of 
paradise? and bestow eternal life? 
Shall I submit to the decision of rea- 
son ? Shall I ash a response from hea- 
ven ? Shall I summon the devils from 
their chains of darkness ? The response 
from heaven sounds in my ears; rea- 
son approves, and the devils confess — 
This, O Christians, is none other than 
the great God our Saviour I 

Indeed, my brethren, the doctrine of 
our ^Lord's divinity is not, as a fact, 
more interesting to our faith, than, as 
a principle, it is essential to our hope. 
If he were not the true G-od, he could 
not be eternal life. When pressed down 
by guilt and languishing for happi- 
ness, I look around for a deliverer such 
as my conscience and iny heart and the 
word of G-od assure me I need, insult 
not my agony, by directing me to m 



14 

creature — to a man, a mere man like 
myself I A creature ! a man ! My Re- 
deemer owns my person. My immortal 
spirit is liis property. When I come to 
die, I must commit it into Ms hands. 
My soul ! my infinitely precious soul 
committed t& a mere man ! become the 
property of a mere man ! I would not, 
thus, intrust my body, to the highest an- 
gel who burns in the temple above. It 
is only the Father of spirits, that can 
have property in spirits, and be their 
refuge in the hour of transition from 
the present to the approaching world. 
In short, my brethren, the divinity ot 
Jesus is, in the system of grace, the sun 
to which all its parts are subordinate, 
and all their stations refer — which 
binds them in sacred concord ; and 
imparts to them their radiance, and 
life, and vigor. Take from it this cen- 
tral luminary, and the glory is depart- 
ed — Its holy harmonies are broken — 
The elements rush to chaos — The light 
of salvation is extinguished forever ! 

H\rt it is not the deity of the Son, 
simply considered, to which the text 
confines our attention. "We are in the 

Second place to contemplate it as sub- 
sisting in a personal union with the 
human nature. 

liong before this epistle was written 
had he by himself purged our sins, and 
sat down at the right hand of the Jftajesty 



Messiah's throne. 15 

on high. It is, therefore, as God mani* 
fested in the flesh ; as my own brother, 
while he is the express image of the 
Fathers person, as the Mediator of the 
new covenant, that he is seated on the 
throne. Of this throne, to which the 
pretensions of a creatnre were mad 
and blasphemous, the majesty is, in- 
deed, maintained J»j his divine power ; 
but the foundation is laid in his me- 
diatorial character. I need not prove 
to this audience, that all his gracious 
offices and all his redeeming work ori- 
ginated in the love and the election of 
his Father. Obedient to that will, 
which fully accorded with his own, he 
came down from heaven ; tabernacled 
in our clay ; was a man of sorrows and 
acquainted with griefs; submitted to 
the contradictions of sinners, the temp- 
tations of the old serpent, and the 
wrath of an avenging God. In the 
merit of his obedience which threw a 
lustre round the divine law; and in 
the atonement of his death by which 
he offered himsetfa sacrifice without spot 
unto God, repairing the injuries of 
man's rebellion, expiating sin through 
the blood of his cross ; and concilia- 
ting its pardon with infinite purity,, 
and unalterable truth ; summarily, in 
his performing those conditions on 
which was suspended all God's mercy 
to man, and all man's enjoyment of 



16 

Crod, in these stupendous works of 
righteousness are we to look for the 
cause of his present glory. He humbled 
himself and became obedient unto deaths 
even the death of the cross § wherefore 
€rod also hath highly exalted him, and 
given him a name which is above every 
name f that at the name of Jfesus every 
knee should bow, of things in heaven and 
things in earth, and things under the 
earth; and that every tongue should 
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
glory of God the Father* Exalted thus, 
to be a Prince and a Saviour, he fills 
heaven with his beauty, and obtains 
from its blest inhabitants, the purest 
and most reverential praise. Worthy, 
cry the mingled voices of his angels 
and his redeemed, worthy is the JLamb 
that was slain, to receive power, and 
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and 
honour, and glory, and blessing. W*or- 
thy, again cry his redeemed, in a song 
which belongs not to the angels, but in 
which with holy ecstasy, we will join, 
worthy art thou, for thou wast slain, and 
hast redeemed us to Crod by thy blood. 

Delightful, brethren, transcendently 
delightful were it to dwell upon this 
theme. But we must refrain ; and 
having taken a transient glance at 
our Redeemer's personal glory, let us 
turn to the 

II. View which the text exhibits— the 



Messiah's throne. 17 

view of his sovereign ru le— Thy throne, 
O God. is forever and ever. 

The mediatorial kingdom of Christ 
Jesus, directed and upheld by his di» 
vinity, is now the object of our con- 
templation. To advance Jehovah's 
glory in the salvation of men, is the 
purpose of its erection. Though earth 
is the scene and human life the limit, 
of those great operations by which 
they are interested in its mercies, and 
prepared for its consummation ; its 
principles, its provisions, its issues, are 
eternal. "When it rises up before us in 
all its grandeur of design, collecting 
and conducting to the heavens of Ood 
millions of immortals, in comparison 
with the least of whom the destruction 
of the material universe were a thing 
of nought, whatever the carnal mind 
calls vast and magnificent shrinks 
away into nothing. 

But it is not so much the nature of 
Messiah's kingdom on which I am to 
insist, as its stability, its administration, 
and the prospects which they open to 
the church of God. 

Messiah's throne is not one of those 
airy fabrics which are reared by 
vanity and overthrown by time : it is 
fixed of old : it is stable and cannot be 
shaken, for 

(1.) It is the throne of God. He who 
sitteth on it is the Omnipotent. Uni* 

2 



18 

versa! being: is in his hand. Revolu* 
tion, force, fear, as applied to his 
kingdom, are words without mean- 
ing. Hise up in rebellion, if thou hast 
courage. Associate witlt thee the 
whole mass of infernal power. Begin 
with the ruin of whatever is fair and 
good in this little globe — Pass from 
hence to pluck the sun out of his place 
— and roll the volume of desolation 
through the starry world— "What hast 
thou done unto him ? It is the puny 
menace of a worm against Him whose 
frown is perdition. Me that sitteth in 
the heavens shall laugh. 

(3.) With the stability which Messi- 
ah's Godhead communicates to his 
throne, let us connect the stability re- 
sulting from his Father's covenant. 

His throne is founded not merely in 
strength, but in right. God hath laid 
the government upon the shoulder of 
his holy child Jesus, and set him upon 
mount Zion as his king forever. He 
has promised, and sworn, to build up 
his throne to all generations / to matte it 
endure as the days of heaven / to heat 
down his foes before his face, and plague 
fliem that hate him. But my faithful- 
ness, adds he, and my mercy shall be with 
him, and in my name shall his horn be 
exalted. Hath he said it, and will he not 
do itt Math he spoken it, and shall it not 
come ta passt Whatever disappoint- 



Messiah's throne, 19 

iu e 11 ts rebuke the visionary projects of 
nieii, or tlie more crafty schemes of 
Satan, the counsel of the JLord, that shall 
stand. Tlie blood of sprinkling, which 
sealed all the promises made to Mes- 
siah, and binds down his Father's 
faithfulness to their accomplishment, 
witnesses continually in the heavenly 
sanctuary* He must, therefore, reign 
till he have put all his enemies under his 
feet. And although the dispensation of 
his authority shall, upon this event, be 
changed; and he shall deliver it up, 
in its present form, to the Father, he 
shall still remain, in his substantial 
glory, a priest upon his throne, to be the 
eternal bond of our union, and the 
eternal medium of our fellowship, 
with the living (*od. 

Seeing that the throne of our King is 
as immovable as it is exalted, let us 
with joy draw water out of that well of 
salvation which is opened to us in the 

•Administration of his kingdom. 
Here we must consider its general 
characters, and the means by which it 
operates. 

The general characters which I 
shall illustrate, are the following : 

(1.) Jtfa/stery.—Ile is the unsearchable 
God, and his government must be like 
himself. Facts concerning both lie has 
graciously revealed. These we must 
admit upon the credit of his own testi- 



20 

mony % with these we must satisfy our 
wishes, and limit our inquiry. To in* 
trude into those things which he hath not 
seen because CSod lias not disclosed 
them, wlietlier they relate to his ar- 
rangements for this world or the next, 
is the arrogance of one vainly putted up 
hy his fleshly mind. There are secrets 
in our Lord's procedure which he will 
not explain to us in this life, and which 
may not, perhaps, he explained in the 
life to come. We cannot tell how he 
makes evil the minister of good : how 
he combines physical and moral agen- 
cies of different kind and order, in the 
production of blessings. We cannot so 
much as conjecture what bearings the 
system of redemption, in every part of 
its process, may have upon the rela- 
tions of the universe 5 nor even what 
may be all the connections of provi- 
dence in the occurrences of this mo- 
ment, or of the last. Such knowledge is 
too wonderful for us •• it is high, we can- 
not attain it. Our Sovereign's way is in 
the sea^ and his path in the deep waters $ 
and his footsteps are not known. When, 
therefore, we are surrounded with 
difficulty; when we cannot unriddle 
his conduct in particular dispensa- 
tions, we must remember that he is 
€i-od ; that we are to walk hy faith f 
and to trust him as implicitly when 
we are in the valley of the shadow of 



Messiah's throne. SI 

death, as when his candle shines upon 
our heads. — We must remember that it 
is not for ns to be admitted into the 
cabinet of the Ming of kings 5 that 
creatures constituted as we are could 
not sustain the view of his unbailed 
agency; that it would confound, and 
scatter, and annihilate our little in- 
tellects. As often, then, as he retires 
from our observation, blending good- 
ness with majesty, let us lay our hands 
upon our mouths, and worship. This 
stateliness of our King can afford us 
no just ground of uneasiness* On the 
contrary, it contributes to our tran- 
quillity : For we know, 

(2.) That if his administration is 
mysterious, it is also wise* 

Great is our JLord. and of great power $ 
his understanding is infinite. That in- 
finite understanding watches over, 
and arranges, and directs all the af- 
fairs of his church and of the world* 
WV are perplexed at every step ; em- 
barrassed by opposition ; lost in confu- 
sion % fretted ~foy disappointment ; and 
ready to conclude, in our haste, that 
all things are against our own good 
and our Master's honour. Mitt this is 
our infirmity / it is the dictate of impa- 
tience and indiscretion. "We forget the 
years of the right hand of the Jflost 
Migh. We are slow of heart in learn- 
ing a lesson which shall soothe our 



22 

spirit s at the expense of our pride'. We 
turn away from the consolation to be 
derived front believing that though we 
know not the connections and results 
of holy providence, our ILord Jesus 
knows then* perfectly. "With him 
there is no irregularity, no chance, vlo 
conjecture. Disposed before his eye in 
the most luminous and exquisite order, 
the whole series of events occupy the 
very place and crisis where they are 
most effectually to subserve the pur- 
poses of his love. Not a moment of time 
is wasted, nor a fragment of action 
misapplied. What he does we do not 
indeed know at present, but, as far as 
we shall be permitted to know hereaf- 
ter, we .shall see that his most inscruta- 
ble procedure was guided by consum- 
mate wisdom ; that our choice was 
often as foolish as our petulance was 
provoking ; that the success of our own 
wishes would have been our most 
painful chastisement, would have di- 
minished our happiness, and detracted 
from his praise. JLei us study, there- 
fore, brethren, to subject our ignorance 
to his knowledge^ instead of prescri- 
bing, to ©bey 5 instead of questioning, 
to believe : to perform our part without 
that despondency which betrays a fear 
that our JLord may neglect his, and 
tacitly accuses him of a less concern 
than we feel for the glory of his own 



Messiah's throne. 23 

name. JLet us not shrink from this 
duty as imposing too rigorous a condi- 
tion upon our obedience, for a 

(3d.) Character of Messiah's admin- 
istration is righteousness. The sceptre 
of his kingdom is a right sceptre. If 
clouds and darkness are round about 
him, righteousness and judgment are the 
habitation of his throne* In the times 
of old, his redeemed wandered in the 
wilderness in a solitary way $ but, never- 
theless, he led them forth by the right 
'way, that they might go to a city of habi- 
tation. He loves his church and the 
members of it too tenderly to lay upon 
them any burdens v or expose them to 
any trials, which are not indispensa- 
ble to their good. It is right for them 
to go through Are and through water, 
that he may bring them out into a weal' 
thy place — right to endure chastening 
that they may be partakers of his holi- 
ness — right to have the sentence of death 
in themselves, that they may trust in the 
living God, and that his strength maybe 
perfect in their weakness. It is right 
that he should endure with much long 
suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to 
destruction •• that he should permit ini- 
quity to abound, the love of many to wax 
cold, and the dangers of his church to 
accumulate, till the interposition of 
his arm be necessary and decisive. In 
the day of final retribution not one 



24 

mouth shall be opened to complain of 
injustice. It will he seen that the 
Judge of all the earth has done right $ 
that the works of his hands have been 
verity and judgment, and done, every 
one of them, in truth and uprightness* 
let us, then, think not only respectful- 
ly but reverently of his dispensations, 
repress the voice of murmur, and re- 
buke the spirit of discontent ; wait, in 
faith and patience, till he become his 
own interpreter, when the heavens shall 
declare his righteousness , and all the 
people see his glory. 

Ton will anticipate me in enumer- 
ating the means which Messsiah em- 
ploys in the administration of his 
kingdom. 

(1.) The gospel^ of which himself, as 
an all-sufficient and condescending 
Saviour, is the great and affecting 
theme. Derided by the world, it is, 
nevertheless, effectual to the salvation 
of them who believe. WV preach Christ 
crucified to the Jews a stumbling-block, 
and to the Greeks foolishness? but to 
them who are called, both Jews and 
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the 
wisdom of God. The doctrine of the 
cross connected with evangelical ordi- 
nances — the ministry of reconciliation ; 
the holy sabbath ; the sacraments of 
his covenant : briefly, the whole system 
of instituted worship, is the rod of the 



Messiah's throne. 25 

Redeemer's strength by which he sub- 
dues sinners to himself ; rules even in 
the midst of his enemies / exercises his 
glorious authority in his church, and 
exhibits a visible proof to men and 
angels, that he is King in Zion. 

(2.) The efficient means to which the 
gospel owes its success, and the name 
of Jesus its praise, is the agency of the 
Holy Ghost. 

Christianity is the ministration of the 
Spirit* All real and sanctifying know- 
ledge of the truth and love of God is 
from his inspiration. It was the last 
and best promise which the Saviour 
made to his afflicted disciples at the 
moment of parting, I will send the Com- 
forter, the Spirit of truth 5 * Me shall glo- 
rify me, for he shall take of mine and 
shall show it unto you. It is he who 
convinces the world of sin, of right* 
eousness, and of judgment-— who infuses 
resistless vigour into means otherwise 
weak and useless. For the weapons of 
our warfare are not carnal, hut mighty 
through €wod, God the Spirit, to the 
pulling down of strong holds. Without 
his benediction, the ministry of an 
archangel would never convert one sin- 
ner from the error of his way. Hut 
when he descends, with his life-giving 
influence from God out of heaven, then 
foolish things of the world confound the 
wise ; and weak thinsrs of th*> +vorld con- 



26 

found the things which are mighty $ and 
base things of the world, and things 
which are despised, yea, and things which 
are not, bring to nought things which 
are* It is this ministration of tlie Spirit 
wliicli renders tlie preaching of tlie 
gospel to men dead in trespasses and sins 
a reasonable service. Wlien I am set 
down in tlie valley of vision, and view 
the bones, very many and very dry, and 
am desired to try tlie effect of my own 
ability in recalling them to life, I will 
fold my hands and stand mnte in as- 
tonishment and despair. But when 
the Lord €rod commands me to speak 
in his name, my closed lips shall be 
opened 5 when he calls upon the breath 
from the four winds to breathe upon the 
slain that they may live, I will prophecy 
without fear — O ye dry bones, hear the 
word of the Lord, and, obedient to his 
voice, they shall come together, bone to 
his bone? shall be covered with sinews 
mnd Mesh / shall receive new life, and 
stand tip upon their feet, an exceeding 
great army. In this manner, from the 
graves of nature, and the dry bones of 
natural men, does the Holy Spirit re- 
cruit the armies of the living God, and 
make them, collectively and indivi- 
dually, a name, and a praise, and a 
glory, to the Captain of their salvation* 
(3.) Among the instruments which 
the Lord Jesus employs in the admin- 



Messiah's throne. 27 

istration of his government, are the re- 
sources of the physical and moral world. 

Supreme in heaven and in earth, 
upholding all things by the word of his 
power, the universe is his magazine of 
means. Nothing which acts or exists, 
is exempted from promoting in its own 
place the purposes of his kingdom* 
Beings rational and irrational ; ani- 
mate and inanimate ; the heavens 
above and the earth below ; the obedi- 
ence of sanctified, and the disobedience 
of unsanctified, men ; all holy spirits ; 
all damned spirits : in one word, every 
agency, every element, every atom, are 
but the ministers of his will, and con- 
cur in the execution of his designs. 
And this he will demonstrate to the 
confusion of his enemies, and the joy of 
his people, in that great and terrible 
day when he shall sit upon the throne of 
his glory, and dispense ultimate judg* 
ment to the quick and the dead. 

Upon these hills of holiness, the sta« 
bility of Messiah's throne, and the 
perfect administration of his kingdom, 
let us take our station, and survey the 

Prospects which rise up before the 
church of Ood. 

When I look upon the magnificent 
scene, I cannot repress the salutation, 
Bail thou that art highly favoured I 

She has the prospect of preservation, 
of increase, and of triumph. 



128 Messiah's throne. 

(1.) The prospect of preservation. 

The long existence of the Christian 
church would he pronounced, upon 
common principles of reasoning, im- 
possible. She finds in every man a 
natural and inveterate enemy. To 
encounter and overcome the unani- 
mous hostility of the world, she boasts 
no political stratagem, no disciplined 
legions, no outward coercion of any 
kind. Yet her expectations is that she 
shall live forever. To mock this hope, 
and blot out her memorial from under 
heaven, the most furious efforts of fa- 
naticism, the most ingenious arts of 
statesmen, the concentrated strength of 
empires, have been frequently and 
perseveringly applied. The blood of 
her sons and her daughters has 
streamed like water ; the smoke of the 
scaffold and the stake, where they won 
the crown of martyrdom in the cause 
of Jesus, has ascended in thick volumes 
to the skies. The tribes of persecution 
have sported over her woes, and erect- 
ed monuments, as they imagined, of 
her perpetual ruin. Mwt where are her 
tyrants, and where their empires ? the 
tyrants have long since gone to their 
own place 5 their names have descend- 
ed upon the roll of infamy 5 their em- 
pires have passed, like shadows over 
the rock — they have successively disap- 
peared, and left not a trace behind ! 



MESSIAH S THRONE. 50 

9 

But what became of the church ? She 
rose from her ashes fresh in beauty 
and in might. Celestial glory beamed 
around her 5 she dashed dlowu the 
monumental marble of her foes, and 
they who hated her lied before her. 
She has celebrated the funeral of kings 
and kingdoms that plotted her de- 
struction; and, with the inscriptions 
of their pride, has transmitted to pos- 
terity the record of their shame. How 
shall this phenomenon be explained? 
We are, at the present moment, wit- 
nesses of the fact 5 but who can unfold 
the mystery? This blessed book, the 
book of truth and life, has made our 
wonder to cease. The Lord her God 
in the midst of her is mighty. His pre- 
sence is a fountain of health, and his 
protection a wall of Are. He has be- 
trothed her, in eternal covenant, to 
himself. Her living Head, in whom 
she lives, is above, and his quickening 
Spirit shall never depart from her. 
Armed with divine virtue, his gospel, 
secret, silent, unobserved, enters the 
hearts of men and sets up an everlast- 
ing kingdom. It eludes all the vigi* 
lance, and baffles all the power, of the 
adversary. Bars, and bolts, and dun* 
geons are no obstacle to its approach 1 
Bonds, and tortures, and death cannot 
extinguish its influence. JLet no man's; 
heart tremble then, because of fear* 



so 

• - 

Kief no mail despair, in these days of 
rebuke and blasphemy? of the Chris- 
tian cause. The ark is launched, in- 
deed, upon the floods % the tempest 
sweeps along- the deep; the billows 
break over her on every side* But 
Jehovah-Jesus has promised to con- 
duct her in safety to the haven of peace. 
She cannot be lost unless the pilot 
perish. Why then do the heathen 
rage, and the people imagine a- vain 
thins ? Hear, O Zion, the word of thy 
Ctod, and rejoice for the consolation. 
Wo weapon that is formed against thee 
shall prosper, and every tongue that shall 
rise against thee in judgment thou shall 
condemn. This is the heritage of the 
servants of the Lord, and their righteous* 
■ness is of me, saith the JLord. 

Mere preservation, however, though 
«? most comfortable, is not the only 
hope of the church ; she has 

(2.) The prospect of increase. 

Increase — from an effectual blessing* 
upon the means of grace in places 
where they are already enjoyed: for 
thus saith the Lord, I will pour water 
upon him that is thirsty, and Hoods upon 
the dry ground s I will pour my Spirit 
upon thy seed, and my blessing upon 
thine offspring ; and they shall spring 
up as among the grass, as willows by the 
nvater-courses. 

Increase— from the diffusion of evan- 



Messiah's throne, SI 

* 
gelical truth through papain lands. 
For behold, the darkness shall cover the 
earth, and gross darkness the people / but 
the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his 
glory shall be seen upon thee* •And the 
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and 
kings to the brightness of thy rising. 
Lift up thine eyes round about and see : 
all they gather themselves together, they 
come to thee: thy sons shall come from, 
far, and thy daughters shall be nursed 
at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and 
How together, and thine heart shall fear, 
and be enlarged $ because the abundance 
of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the 
forces of the Gentiles shall come unto 
thee. 

Increase — from the recovery of the 
rejected Jews to the faith and privi- 
leges of God'§ dear children. Blind* 
ness in part has happened unto Israel— 
they have been cut off, for their unbe- 
lief, from the olive-tree. Age has 
followed age, and they remain to this 
hour, spread over the face of the earth, 
a fearful and affecting testimony to the 
truth of God's word. They are with- 
out their sanctuary, without their 
Messiah, without the hope of their be- 
lieving ancestors. But it shall not be 
always thus. They are still beloved for 
the fathers' sake. When the fullness of 

the Gentiles shall come in, they too shall 
be gathered. They shall discover, in 



$2 

our Jesus, the marks of the promised 
Messiah ; and with tenderness propor- 
tioned to their former insensibility, 
shall cling to his cross. Grafted again 
into their own olive-tree, all Israel shall 
he saved. It was through their fall that 
salvation came unto us Gentiles. And, 
if the casting away of them he the recon- 
ciling of the world, what shall the receiv- 
ing of them he hut life from the dead ? 
What ecstasy, my brethren! the Gen- 
tile and the Jew taking sweet counsel 
together, and going to the house of God, 
in company I the path of the swift mes- 
senger of grace marked, in every di- 
rection, by the fullness of the blessing of 
the gospel of Christ— a nation born at 
once — the children of Zion exclaiming, 
The place is too strait for me •• give place 
to me that I may dwell. The knowledge 
of Jehovah overspreading the earth as 
the waters cover the sea§ and all flesh 
enjoying the salvation of God ! 

This faith ushers in a 

(3.) Prospect of the Church— the pros- 
pect of triumph. 

Though often desolate, and afflicted, 
tossed with tempest and not comforted, 
the Lord her God will then make her 
an eternal excellency, and repay her 
sorrows with triumph — 

Triumph — in complete victory over 
the enemies who sought her hurt. The 
nation and kingdom, saith the Lord, 



Messiah's throne. 33 

that wilt not serve thee shall perish ; yea 
those nations shall he utterly wasted. — 
The sons also of them that aMieted thee 
shall come bentUmg unto thee; and all 
they that despised thee shall how them" 
selves down at the soles of thy feet; and 
they shall call thee the city of the JLord, 
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 
That great eiteoiy of her purity and 
her peace, who shed the blood of her 
saints and her prophets, the Jttan of Sin 
who has exalted himself above all that is 
called God, shall appear, in the whole 
horror of his doom as the son of perdi* 
Hon, whom the I^ord shall consume with 
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy 
with the brightness of his coming. The 
terrible foi\t joyous event shall be 
announced by an angel from heaven 
crying' mightily with a strong voice, JBa* 
bylon the great is fallen, is fallen / *ll- 
leluia, shall be the response of the 
church universal, Salvation, and glory, 
and honour, and power, unto the lord 
our CSrod / for true and righteous are his 
judgments ; for he hath judged the great 
whore which did corrupt the earth with 
her fornication, and hath avenged the 
blood of his servants at her hand I Then 
too, the accuser of the brethren — that old 
serpent which is the devil, shall be cast 
down, and bound a thousand years that 
he shall deceive the nations no more. — 
This will introduce the church's 

3 



54 Messiah's throne. 

Triumph— in the prevalence of right* 
eousness and peace throughout the 
world. 

Her people shall he all righteous* The 
voice of the blasphemer shall no lon- 
ger insult her ear. Iniquity as asha- 
med shall stop its mouth, and hide its 
head. %Ml her officers shall be peace, and 
all her exactors, righteousness. The 
kings of the earth bringing their glory 
and honour unto her, shall accomplish 
the gracious promise. The mountains 
shall bring peace to the people, and the 
little hills by righteousness. Her prince 
whose throne is forever and ever, shall 
judge among the nations, and shall re- 
buke many people? and they shall beat 
their swords into ploughshares, and their 
spears into pruning hooks •* nation shall 
not lift up sword against nation, neither 
shall they learn war any more I Every 
man shall meet, in every other man, a 
brother without dissimulation. Fear 
and the sword shall be far away, 
they shall sit every man under his vine, 
and under his tig -tree, and none shall 
make them afraid. For thus saith the 
JLord, Violence shall no more be heard in 
thy land, wasting nor destruction within 
thy borders? but thou shall call thy 
walls, Salvation, and thy gates, Praise. 

Triumph — in the presence of God. in 
the communion of his love, and the 
signal manifestation of his glory. Be- 



35 

hold, the tabernacle of God shall he with 
men, and he will dwell with them, and 
they shall be his people, and €wod himself 
shall be with them, and be their God. 
Then shall be seen, the holy Jerusalem de- 
scending out of heaven from €w od , which 
shall have no need of the sun, neither of the 
moon, to shine in it 9 for the glory of God 
shall lighten it, and the JLamb shall be the 
light thereof. •Ind the nations of them 
which are saved shall walk in the light of 
it, and they shall bring the glory and hon- 
our of the nations into it; and there shall 
in no wise enter into it any thing that de- 
file th, neither whatsoever worketh abomi- 
nation, or maketh a lie 9 but they which 
are written in the L.amVs book of life. 
Such, according to the sure word of 
prophecy, Trill be the triumphs of 
Christianity ; and to this issue all 
scriptural efforts to evangelize the 
heathen contribute their share. That 
mind is profane, indeed, which repels 
the sentiment of awe ; and hard is the 
heart which feels no bland emotion — 
But let us pause — You exult, perhaps, 
in the view of that happiness which is 
reserved for the human race 5 you long 
for its arrival ; and are eager, in your 
place, to help on the gracious work. 
It is well. But are there no heathen 
in this assembly ? Are there none who, 
in the midst of their zeal for foreign 
missions* forget their own souls ; nor 



36 

consider that tliey themselves neglect 
the great salvation f Remember, my 
brethren, that a man may be active in 
measures which shall subserve the 
conversion of others, &m& yet perish in 
his own iniquity. That very gospel 
which you desire to send to the hea- 
then, must be the gospel of your salva- 
tion ; it must turn you from darkness to 
lights from the power of Satan unto God / 
it must make you meet for the inheri- 
tance of the saints, or it shall fearfully 
aggravate your condemnation at last. 
You pray, Thy kingdom come. Rut is 
the kingdom of God within you ? Is the 
Lord Jesus in you, the hope of glory f Re 
not deceived. The name of Christian 
will not save you. Retter had it been for 
you not to have known the way of right- 
eousness — better to have been the most 
idolatrous pagan — better, infinitely 
better, not to have l^eew born , than to die 
strangers to the pardon of the Redeem- 
er's blood, and the sanctifying virtue of 
his Spirit. From his throne on high he 
calls 5 calls, my brethren, to you 5 JLook 
unto me, and heye saved, for lam God, and 
there is none else. Seek ye the £jord while 
he may be found; call ye upon him while 
he is near j let the wicked forsake his way, 
and the unrighteous man his thoughts, 
and let him return unto the I^ord, and he 
will have mercy upon him ; and to our 
God, for he will abundantly pardon. 



Messiah's throne. 37 

On the other hand, such as have fled 
for refuge to lay hold on the hope set 
before them, are commanded to be joy- 
ful in their King. He reigns, O be- 
liever, for thee. The stability of his 
throne is thy safety. The administra- 
tion of his government is for thy good; 
and the precious pledge that he will 
perfect that which concerneth thee. In 
all thy troubles and in all thy joy com- 
mit thy way unto him. He will guard 
the sacred deposit. Fear not that thou 
shalt lack any good thing — Fear not 
that thou shalt be forsaken — Fear not 
that thou shalt fall beneatli the arm of 
the oppressor. " He went through the 
tires of the pit to save thee ; and he will 
stake all the glories of his crown to 
keep thee." Sing, then, thou beloved, 
Behold, €wod is my salvation $ I will 
trust, and not he fifraid / for the JLord 
•Jehovah is my strength and my songs 
he also is become my salvation. 

And if we have tasted that he is gra- 
cious: if we look back with horror 
and transport upon the wretchedness 
and the wrath which we have escaped, 
with what anxiety shall we not hasten 
to the aid of our fellow-men, who are 
sitting in the region and shadow of death. 
What zeal will be too ardent; what 
labour too persevering ; what sacrifice 
too costly, if, by any means, we may 
tell them of Jesus, and the resurrec- 



lion, and the life eternal ! Who shall 
be daunted by difficulties, or deterred 
by discouragement ? If but one pagan 
should be brought, savingly, by your 
instrumentality, to the knowledge of 
Ood, and the kingdom of heaven, will 
you not, my brethren, have an ample 
recompense ? Is there here a man who 
would give up all for lost because 
some favourite hope has been disap- 
pointed? or who regrets the worldly 
substance which he has expended on 
so divine an enterprise? Shame on 
thy coward spirit and thine avaricious 
heart ! Do the holy scriptures, does 
the experience of ages, does the nature 
of things, justify the expectation, that 
we shall carry war into the central 
regions of delusion and crime, without 
opposition, without trial ? Show me a 
plan which encounters not fierce resis- 
tance from the prince of darkness and 
his allies in the human heart, and I 
will show you a plan which never 
came from the inspiration of Ood. If 
missionary effort suffer occasional em- 
barrassment: if impressions on the 
heathen be less speedy, and powerful, 
and extensive, than fond wishes have 
anticipated: if particular parts of the 
great system of operation be, at times, 
disconcerted : if any of the ministers of 
grace fall a sacrifice to the violence of 
those whom they go to bless in the name 



39 

of the Lord / these are events which 
ought to exercise our faith stud pa- 
tience ; to wean us from self-sufficien- 
cy s to teach us where our strength lies? 
and where our dependence must be 
fixed 5 hut not to enfeeble hope, nor re- 
lax diligence. L<et us not despise the 
day of smalt things, liet us not over- 
look, as an unimportant matter, the 
very existence of that missionary spirit 
which has already awakened Chris- 
tians in different countries from their 
long and dishonourable slumbers, and 
bids fair to produce, in due season, a 
general movement of the church, upon 
earth. ILet us not, for one instant, har- 
bour the ungracious thought, that the 
prayers, and tears, and wrestlings of 
those "who make mention of the JLord^ 
form no link in that vast chain of 
events by which he will establish, and 
witl mafae Jerusalem a praise in the 
earth. That dispensation which of all 
others is most repulsive to flesh and 
Mood, the violent death of faithful mis- 
sionaries, should animate Christians 
with new resolution. Precious in the 
sight of the LiOrd is the death of his 
saints. The cry of martyred blood as- 
cends the heavens ; it enters into the 
ears of the Lortl of Sabaoth. It will 
give him no rest till he rain down right' 
eousness upon the land where it has 
been shed, and which it has sealed as 
a future conquest for him who in hit 



40 MESSIAH'S THRONE. 

majesty rides prosperously because of 
truth, and meekness, and righteousness* 

For the world, Indeed, and perhaps 
for the church, many calamities and 
trials are in store, before the glory of 
the liOrd shall be so revealed, that ail 
Mesh shall see it together. I wilt shake 
all nations, is the divine declaration, 1 
will shake all nations / and the desire of 
all nations shall come. The vials of 
wrath which are now running*, and 
others which remain to he poured out, 
must be exhausted. The supper of the 
great God must be prepared, and his 
strange work have its course. Yet the 
missionary cause must ultimately suc- 
ceed* It is the cause of God, and shall 
prevail. The days, O brethren, roll 
rapidly on, when the shout of the isles 
shall swell the thunder of the Conti- 
nent : when the Thames and the Dan- 
ube, when the Tiber and the Rhine, 
shall call upon Euphrates, the Ganges, 
and the Nile? and the loud concert shall 
be joined by the Hudson, the Mississippi, 
and the Amazon, singin g with one heart 
and one voice, Alleluia! Salvation! 
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth ! 

Comfort one another with this faith, 
and with these words : 

Now, Blessed be the Lord God, the God 
of Israel, who only doeth wondrous 
things. And blessed be his glorious name 
forever •• let the whole earth be tilled with 
his glory I Amen and Amen I 



DR. ALEXANDER M'OLELLAND'S 
PLEA 

FOR A STANDING MINISTRY ; 

A 

SERMON 

DELIVERED AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
OF NEW- YORK, ON THE 28TH OF DECEMBER, 1817. 



PSALM LXXIV. 9. 

There is no more any Prophet. 

The question concerning the precise 
date, occasion, and author of the sa- 
cred ode in which we find this short 

and pithy sentence, is one of the many 
on which much has been written, but 
little told. leaving- it to he settled by 
those worthy pains-tahing theologues, 
called Biblical Critics, I thinh it suf- 
ficient for my purpose to observe, that 
it seems imtei^^e^ as a solemn dirge 
over the deplorable state of the Church 
and nation of Israel. CJod had with- 
drawn his presence and grace, ene- 
mies had profaned the sanctuary, and 
the synagogues were htivmt through- 
out the land. — Among the subjects of 
lamentation, the poet tahes particular 
notice of the annihilation of the order 
of men instituted by CS-od to proclaim 
his will: "There is no more any 
prophet, nor any who knoweth how 
long." The prophets were a succes- 



42 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY, 

sion of faithful men, whom Jehovah 
raised up and distributed throughout 
the land, to inculeate the great prin- 
ciples of religion and morality, testify 
against degeneracy, and confirm the 
nation in its allegiance to himself* 
From the very nature of their office, 
therefore, we may conclude that their 
influence w r as most beneficial, and 
their loss deplorable. 

I have selected, Brethren, the word§ 
just read, merely as an introduction 
to a series of reflections on the benefits 
resulting from a standing religious 
ministry ; hj which is meant a regular 
body of men, whose exclusive employ- 
ment is to superintend and regulate 
the worship of €*od. I, of course, 
have particularly in my eye the Chris- 
tian Priesthood; not so much, how- 
ever, as embodied in any particular 
form — of Episcopacy, or Independen- 
cy, or Presbytery— as abstractly and 
essentially considered. 

My object is to show, that in what- 
ever light it be contemplated, it will 
be found one of the most valuable in- 
stitutions a bountiful Providence hath 
ordained for the good of man : and 
thus I hope to prepare you to contrib- 
ute to its support, not only with the 
hand, but "the heart and understand- 
ing also." 

It is possible that to some this at- 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 43 

tempt may have a certain appearance 
of arrogance and presumption ; but I 
confess that I am entirely unable to 
conceive the reasons oia wliicli such an 
unfavourable judgment can be found- 
ed. The physician is allowed to des- 
cant on the usefulness and importance 
of the healing* art, the civilian on the 
noble study of the law. In both cases 
we pardon even extravagance? for we 
consider it the effect of a zeal hon- 
ourable and profitable to the posses- 
sor. Certainly, then, it should not be 
deemed improper if we, on suitable oc- 
casions, and with calmness and ra- 
tionality, undertake to magnify our 
office, by enumerating its admirable 
benefits to mankind. I do not forget 
the adage of the wise man, "!Let 
another praise thee, and not thine 
own mouth ; a stranger, and not thine 
own lips." The maxim inculcated is 
excellent; and I trust that not a sylla- 
ble shall grate on the ears of my audi- 
tors this evening inconsistent with the 
most rigid interpretation of it. That 
person is an object of my sincerest pity, 
who needs to be told that the office, not 
the man ; the order, not the insignifi- 
cant and unworthy member who stands 
before you, is the subject af discussion. 
Without wasting time in further 
preliminaries, I ask, Brethren, your 
unprejudiced attention, craving no 



44 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

other verdict but that of impartial 
justice* 

In order to appreciate the value of a 
standing religious ministry, it will he 
necessary to examine its influence 

On literature and intellectual im- 
provement % 

On morals % 

On social order ; and 

On the destinies of man, as a crea- 
ture of Clod and candidate for immor- 
tality. 

Though it must he acknowledged 
that the first point specified is in itself 
by far tl^e least important 5 yet, from its 
being less considered and understood, 
I feel authorised to bestow upon it the 
largest portion of your time and at- 
tention. 

Man is distinguished from all other 
creatures here below, by powers of 
thinking and intelligence, in the exer- 
cise of which 011 the objects that sur- 
round him lie accomplishes one im- 
portant purpose of his creation. 
There is an idea, indeed, current with 
a certain class of reasoners (if so they 
may be called) that tlie mere human 
sciences, by which is meant all those 
researches which have no immediate 
connexion with religion, are to be 
condemned and exploded, as entirely 
unfit for man in his present condition 
and prospects. I shall not pass out of 



PLEA EOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 45 

my way to confute a notion so enor- 
mously ridiculous; but shall content 
myself with observing, that they who 

thus endeavour to make the CS-ospel 
Heaven a literal fooVs paradise, should 
see well to it, that they are not libel- 
ling the holy religion they profess. On 
the contrary, it is to be cheerfully ac- 
knowledged, that literature is the glo- 
ry of human nature ; that tUe exercise 
and cultivation of the intellectual 
powers, and the enlargement of the 
boundaries of knowledge, is not only 
useful but ornamental to man, and an 
illustrious part pf that divine image 
which was originally impressed on 
him. This remark is to be applied to 
ait intellectual exercises — to all know- 
ledge, — no matter what the object, no 
matter what the department or means 
of acquisition s and I heartily declare, 
that the man who, after months of la- 
borious scrutiny, presents to the public 
the anatomical or physiological sys- 
tem of a gnat or a mosquito, calls not 
up one ridiculous or painful associa- 
tion, lie has added to the riches, he 
has added to tUe dignity of intellectual 
man. Moreover, he has fulfilled one 
great design of the C*od of nature in 
creation : for why did tl\e G-od of na- 
ture expend such admirable might 
and skill on mere specks of being, un- 
less for this, that man, the official ex* 



46 *>LEA TOR A STANDING MINISTRY* 

plorer of his works, should in these 
also discern his wisdom and power di- 
vine ? The same holds true of the as- 
tronomer investigating the laws of 
universal nature, mapping the starry 
concave and tracing the comet's 
flight : the same of the metaphysician, 
pushing his researches into abstract 
being, analyzing the principles of his 
own mind, and qualifying himself to 
obey the first of nature's laws, " Know 
thyself: 99 the same of the humble anti- 
quary too, who, searching among the 
ruins of ages long gone by, brings 
forth many a gem to sparkle in the 
crown of science : All, all are the be- 
nefactors of their race, and demand 
our grateful homage and veneration. 

This, however, is mere preliminary, 
and we proceed to elucidate in what 
manner ^ve suppose the march of men- 
tal cultivation to have been aided by 
a religious order. 

Here it must at once be evident, that 
the simple fact of the separation of a 
numerous class of the human family 
from secular employments and cares, 
is one of no trifling consideration ; the 
great obstacle to intellectual improve- 
ment in every age being in this case 
entirely removed, and opportunity 
presented for dedication of effort to 
high and noble objects. We would 
not be understood as insinuating wh at 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 47 

a moment's observation would belie, 
tliat freedom from the universal curse 
will be always followed by propor- 
tional advancements in knowledge ; 
but simply that a state of exemp- 
tion is, in itself, a privilege far from 
contemptible. Accordingly it will be 
found, on a careful examination, that 
a nation never rises from a state of ig- 
norance and barbarism until it has 
acquired the superfluities of life, or at 
least until a considerable portion of 
its population is exalted above the ne- 
cessity of labour. History has indeed 
handed down the fame of some indi- 
viduals who, triumphing over all the 
disadvantages of an abject poverty, 
have risen to the highest eminence in 
literature and the arts. But it would 
be easy to show that these, instead of 
destroying the general rule, are not 
even exceptions, as they have never 
been found but in communities al- 
ready civilized (partially at least) by 
the influence of others more favoura- 
bly situated. 

But at any rate these are not the 
grand support and dependence of li- 
terature. They present themselves too 
seldom to effect any durable or extensive 
good •• they are the meteors of the intel- 
lectual world — splendid ! wondered at! 
talked of by posterity, and celebrated in 
song ! yet scarcely to be ranked among 



48 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

the really useful and beneficial lumi- 
naries : they are prodigies ; but, like 
all prodigies, great only in detail ? of 
little importance as a combined whole. 
To make effectual progress, general 
Science, (like all her subordinate de- 
partments) requires a regular body of 
men, whose situation will permit ha- 
bits of devotion to her interests. These 
are her true efficient force, her stand- 
ing army ; to whose energy and skill 
she looks for her triumph and her 
glories. 

In applying these remarks to the 
order of men I call a " Religious Min- 
istry," I do not forget a semblance of 
an objection to its propriety, founded 
on the circumstance, that though ele- 
vated indeed above the common impe- 
diments to mental exertion, yet so far 
from being the regular soldiers of 
literature, their studies and habits are 
directed to a specifically different ob- 
ject. This is in a measure certainly 
true : all, therefore, we contend for is, 
that the two objects are so intimately 
and necessarily connected that the un- 
interrupted pursuit of the one cannot 
but influence most favourably the pro- 
secution of the other. 

To evince this is an easy task, and a 
single glance is equal to a long series 
of argumentation. For what is the 
official duty of the ministers of reli- 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 49 

gion? . To this question their very 
name furnishes an answer. They are 
to investigate the perfections of the 
great First Cause ; unfold the princi- 
ples of his moral government x explore 
the whole Held of relation between 
him and his creatures ; declare the re- 
quisitions of law ; point out its foun- 
dations; announce its sanctions; and 
after promulging the whole system, to 
defend it, part by part ; and by every 
argument demonstrate its reasonable- 
ness, beauty, and consistency: above 
all, they are the chosen keepers of that 
Revelation which the great Cfod has, 
in his infinite mercy, communicated to 
man : and must consider themselves 
under imperious obligations to guard 
the sacred deposit with the utmost di- 
ligence, the intensest care, by all the 
weapons the world above, the world 
around, the world below, can furnish 
to their hands* To meet the vast 
variety of assaults, what mental re- 
sources, what powers of reference, 
what skill in intellectual warfare are 
not necessary! Each disputant is to 
be confronted on his own vantage 
ground, each cavil to supply its own 
refutation. Now the cursed fiend of 
Infidelity is to be driven through the 
ten thousand mazes of metaphysical 
sophistry — now to be detected in the 
garb of a philosophical sage poring 



50 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

ill seeming adoration o'er the astro- 
nomic annals of f lie Hindoo. What- 
ever be his shape, like the malignant 
Genii of Oriental Fable, he is to be met 
by his enemy in a similar form, and 
has the privilege moreover of ehoosing 
his own measures, arms, and oppor- 
tunities* Are then the studies of hu- 
man seienee in no way connected with 
the employments and duties of a reli- 
gious ministry? Nay, let a solitary 
department be specified, of which it 
can be said, " It is useless, unprofitable 
lumber." 

All this I grant is very far from prov- 
ing, that the class of men I am speak- 
ing of are learned men, or promoters 
of learning; but I beg leave to say, 
Brethren, it does prove that their pro- 
fessional employment is calculated to 
make them both / and why they are not 
to be supposed so honest as men in 
other professions in improving their 
advantages, must be explained not by 
me, but by those who deny them that 
honesty, and are accustomed to con- 
nect with the very name of Priesthood 
the idea of every thing base, little, and 
degrading. 

There is another consideration 
which ought by no means to be over- 
looked in estimating the influence of 
an order of men on intellectual im- 
provement. I allude to the standing 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 51 

they occupy and the opportunities they 
enjoy of intercourse with the body of the 
people. It is not enough for a nation 
to have her sages and philosophers: 
these have been found in countries 
comparatively low in the scale of civi- 
lization, and whose very names would 
have been sunk long ere now in obliv- 
ion's gulf, had they not been happily 
attached to individual fame. This 
however is not a situation of things to 
be desired or sought after. It is only 
when universally diffused through the 
diversified classes of society, when 
found in the thatched cottage of the 
peasant, as well as gilded palace of his 
lord, that literature is a rich and in- 
valuable boon. 

But how is this great object to be 
attained ? By what means are habits 
of thinking and refinement to be im- 
pressed on the vast body of a people ; a 
body composed of so many heterogene- 
ous elements, and confessedly indis- 
posed to admit such impression ? What 
is in the first place to interest the feel- 
ings of the community ? If the maxim 
be correct, that man in a state of na- 
ture acts only from views of present or 
future interest, that it is vain to think 
of exciting him to any difficult enter- 
prise without presenting at the same 
time a distinct and tangible object* 
then Literature, though in her hum- 



52 TLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

blest form, must come to him in another 
garb beside her own ; and great as are 
her eharms to all who know her, must 
borrow other charms to eatch his fa- 
vourable notice. You may talk to him 
indeed of the " pleasures of investiga- 
tion, the dignity of science, its possible 
benefits to society ;" he hears you ! he 
assents ! but does he feel ? " Ay, there's 
the rub V Alas ! not a syllable of your 
fine-spun declamation conies home to 
his " business or bosom," awakes his 
sympathy, or affects the heart ! 

But introduce your guest as the fa- 
vourite handmaid of Religion : now 
you rouse the sleeping energies of the 
man, and see him rushing forward to 
her embrace. He now sees her value ; 
she is no more that abstract, useless, 
unintelligible phantom he once ima- 
gined her, but a useful, nay, necessary 
friend. Accordingly I have no hesita- 
tion in affirming, that all the polish 
and improvement, all the habits of 
thinking and reasoning prevailing 
among the lower and more numerous 
classes of society, are primarily derived 
from considerations purely religious. 

And here, Brethren, is the pre-emi- 
nent advantage of the Ministers of re- 
ligion. Invested with the venerable 
character of Heralds of the Jflost High, 
they enjoy the peculiar prerogative of 
communicating the only intellectual 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 5S 

ideas; adapted to an uncultivated 
mind, and to these they have the power 
of giving irresistible energy, by bind- 
ing them (as it were) to its most inter- 
esting associations, and intermingling 
them with the awful images of eternity. 
Thus they commence the formation of 
new habits : they give a first impulse to 
intellectual motion: by an engine 
more potent than Archimedes 9 famous 
lever, they elevate Mind from the dregs 
in which it grovelled, and give it a 
prospect at least of the fair and bound- 
less fields of knowledge. 

This speculation is not the air-built 
fabric of the theorist. I appeal to fact, 
stubborn, undeniable fact. Without 
demanding your implicit submission 
to the high authority of the celebrated 
author * of "the Spirit of I^aws," who 
has asserted that wherever there are 
no priests the people are barbarians — 
without insisting on the striking fact, 
that all the mental improvement of 
Greece and Rome was founded on, and 
derived from, their mythological fa- 
bles, which, though adorned by the 
poet, were undoubtedly invented by 
the priest; I would ask in general, 
what is the intellectual condition of 
those countries where the clerical 
order is thinly sown? If we were to 

* Spirit of Laws, vol. 2. book 2. 



54 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

believe a certain class of declaimers 
(for, lauded be God, they are nothing 
more) we would suppose them to be 
perfect paradises of science — tilled with 
trees of knowledge of spontaneous 
growth, expanding their branches on 
every side, and laden with all manner 
of precious and fragrant fruits. But 
is it thus ? I fairly ask the question : 
Nay, is it not a fact, and a fact perfectly 
notorious, that those are the very coun- 
tries and sections of country where 
humanity weeps over her degrada- 
tion ; where mind has scarce begun to 
germinate, and distinguish its posses- 
sor from the " brutes that perish ?" On 
the other hand, who, in accounting for 
the acuteness of apprehension, the 
spirit of investigation (however in 
some cases improperly directed) and 
the enlargement of mental resources, 
which pre-eminently distinguish a cer- 
tain section of our country, — I mean 
New England, — will dare to overlook 
her established order of Clergy t 

I am aware of the objection that I 
am now to confront, from facts sup- 
posed to have occured in the European 
world* " Who caused the decline of 
Roman and Orecian literature ? Who 
sunk the world into a state more hor- 
rid than its primitive chaos, by extin- 
guishing the sun of science in his rapid 
course to meridian splendour? By 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 55 

whose ruthless arm was the fair seraph 
Truth precipitated into a foul and 
gloomy dungeon, and there confined 
for ages ? Whose ? The priests ; un- 
doubtedly the priests : The proof is re- 
corded in every page of history/' 
Brethren, were we to judge of the force 
of an argument from the force, or 
rather the fury, with which it is urged, 
and the pertinacity with which it is 
supported, we would imagine this to 
be one serious indeed. Happily, how- 
ever, it is only one of those daring ex- 
cursions of fancy with which great 
geniuses, for lack of other and more 
profitable employment, occasionally 
amuse themselves. jLet us attend to it 
a little closely: The idea plainly is, 
that the established order of men called 
the " Christian Ministry," was the 
great agent in producing that intel- 
lectual darkness which for eight cen- 
turies brooded over the world. Now, 
in answer, I would in the first place 
ask, what the assertion really proves, 
even on the supposition of its entire 
truth and correctness ? Woes it evince 
more than this — that a standing priest- 
hood is one of those stupendous engines 
whose misdirected force is as baneful 
to society as their legitimate applica- 
tion is beneficial ? Does it evince more 
than this — that an institution intended 
and calculated for the public good be- 



£<$ PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

came, by a series of unhappy incidents, 
an impure fountain, sending fortli 
streams of bitterness, poison, and 
death ? But is it fair to involve the in- 
stitution itself in an unqualified con- 
demnation ? On this principle (and let 
its advocates see to it) literature her- 
self must tremble, and every thing 
useful and ornamental to man : for 
what has not been abused ; and what, 
when abused, has not produced sor- 
rows and disasters precisely commen- 
surate with its original powers of 
good? I might exemplify this by the 
art of Printing, that most illustrious of 
human inventions; but concerning 
the author of which, on the principle 
of the objection, it may be very proper- 
ly asked, -whether it would not have 
been better had he never been born ? I 
might point out to you even the blessed 
revelation of 'God our Saviour, which, 
though breathing in every line peace 
on earth and good will to man, has 
been the occasion of the most shocking 
scenes in the historic drama. 

Hvit I deny the fact as stated in the 
objection, and assert that the clerical 
order were not the original causes of 
anti- christian darkness. This, I am 
aware, is very different from the pop- 
ular sentiment on the subject; but I 
am also aware that in this, as in 
many other cases, popular sentiment 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 57 

needs only to be weighed in order to be 
found wanting. At what time did the 
Clergy begin to exercise that gigantic 
and terrible despotism which (as is on 
all sides confessed) proved so injnrions 
to the world ? Whatever may be the 
variety of opinions on this point, none 
certainly will venture to fix a higher 
date than the fourth or fifth century. 
Wow the fact is perfectly notorious, 
that for the space of four centuries 
prior to this period, the empire of lite- 
rature had been in a rapid and incu- 
rable decline. The causes of this it is 
needless to specify : suffice it to say, that 
the undue extension of the Roman em- 
pire ; the utter absence of moral prin- 
ciple ; the establishment of absolute 
despotism ; the irruptions of the bar- 
barous nations of the Worth ; the con- 
sequent demolition of the monuments 
of science and art; and the universal 
prevalence of savage customs, habits, 
and language ; — all combined to in- 
duce a state of things, not only unfa- 
vourable, but directly fatal to intellec- 
tual improvement. Hence the observa- 
tion of Quintilian, that even in his 
day the Latin language was degene- 
rating ; hence the dialogue ascribed to 
the celebrated Pliny, 01^ the causes of 
the decline of Roman eloquence ; and 
hence the fact that subsequent to him, 
no superior Roman classic is to be 



58 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

found. Where were the priests in 
these ill-omened times? Where were 
they ? In the dungeon, on the scaffold. 
at the stake — bearing testimony for 
their God, and sealing their testimony 
with their blood ! 

It is not denied, that subsequently to 
this, when enthroned on the ruins of 
Paganism, and established in imperial 
favour, they beeame infeeted with the 
wide-spreading malady : then they 
also beeame centres of pestilence ; and, 
being enveloped in the rushing dark- 
ness by a very common re-action, in- 
creased that darkness. In other words, 
contracting, from prevailing example, 
an intellectual degeneracy, they in 
turn became influential, and most 
powerfully contributed to extend de- 
generacy around. Their usurpations 
and tyrannies were nothing more than 
the natural consequences of this deplo- 
able state of things. They found the 
lamp of science utterly extinguished % 
and it is scarcely to be wondered at, 
that they improved the opportunity to 
become " blind leaders of the blind." 
They saw the fair fabric of civiliza- 
tion cloven to the base — fallen to the 
ground ; and, instead of uselessly weep- 
ing 9 they aspired to reign o'er the ruin. 
In fine, like Csesar, they saw the prac- 
ticability of reducing a world to bon- 
dage — and who of mere mortal mould 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 59 

could hare resisted a temptation so al- 
luring ? Still, like Csesar, they did not 
cause the evil : they only took advan- 
tage of the wretched times in which 
they lived : and had they not, such was 
the state of things, that, in all proba- 
bility, a tyrant yet more hideous would 
have grasped the sceptre. I say not 
this to vindicate their conduct, but 
simply to show that, if they did exalt 
themselves " above all called Ood," 
and to confirm their usurpation, 
shackled the mental energies of man, 
they did so, in the first instance, not by 
violence, but by invitation, from the 
concurring circumstances in which 
they were placed. 

But I would be unfaithful to my 
task, Brethren, did I omit another 
claim they can boldly make to the in- 
dulgence of the man of science. Of 
the little cultivation which survived 
the wreck of Roman greatness, the 
Clergy were the sole patrons and preser- 
vers* If Literature, from shining as 
the great orb of day, enlightening and 
adorning the earth with its beams, 
dwindled into a dying spark ; let it 
not be forgotten that this spark was 
preserved from extinction by the 
Christian Priesthood. I need scarcely 
state that the word Clergyman is the 
same with that formerly used to desig- 
nate one capable of writing, or call to 



CO PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 

your recollection a fact still more strik- 
ing, that in consideration of the abso- 
lute need of their literary services to 
the public, they received the privilege 
of exemption in many cases from cap- 
ital punishment. It is sufficient to 
make the broad assertion, for it is in- 
controvertible, that for four hundred 
years, they were the centre of all 
knowledge, both human and divine. 
Thus, if instrumental in the general 
ill, they were the only class of men 
found to attempt an atonement, by 
alleviating its weight, and setting 
bounds to its horrid progress. 

And who burst at length the unhal- 
lowed prison of darkness and despair, 
which, to the disgrace of humanity, 
had so long confined ail that is dignify- 
ing in life, and comforting in death ? 
Who, standing over the grave of mur- 
dered Truth, pronounced the reviving 
sentence — " Rise, come forth V 9 Who 
re-lighted the torch of knowledge 
with fire from heaven, enterprised to 
bear it over the waves, fix it on every 
mountain top, and so gloriously suc- 
ceeded, that in a few years it may be 
almost affirmed, earth's remotest 
bounds were illumined with its blaze ? 
Great Arbiter of the destinies of man I 
Thou didst the work 5 and when we 
forget thy compassions, may our 
tongues cleave to the roofs of our 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 61 

mouths — may our right hands fall 
nerveless by our side ! But, Brethren, I 
feel no hesitation in affirming:, that 
this illustrious event, so important in 
all points of view to our happiness, 
and so auspieious to our hopes, is, un- 
der God, to be attributed to the Chris- 
tian *JfLinistry. Is it necessary to de- 
tail ? Who but a priest, at the head of 
a band of priests, first dissolved the 
charm of papal supremacy, laughed 
at the fulminations of the anti-chris- 
tian tyrant, and announced "Liberty" 
to the world ? Who, I would ash with 
redoubled emphasis, after preserving 
from age to age, dragged from its se- 
questered hiding-place the classic 
page* renewing a Tally's thunder and 
a Homer's song ? " This too claimed 
by the priests." Yes, Brethren, the 
priests ; call them by what name you 
please — the Religious Order * were the 
achievers of the glorious enterprise. 

* The question, whether the restoration of Literature 
was the effect of the reformation in religion, or vice versa, 
is entirely unimportant. If, on the one hand, it be granted, 
that commencing literary improvement produced those 
materials on which our theological Reformers worked 
with such surprising success ; it is evident, on the other, 
that a revival of letters could never have been consum- 
mated without a reformation in religion. A popish lite- 
rature must of necessity be partial ; and more than this 
was never contemplated by Leo. 



63 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

Blessed be God ! When I look around 
me in the world, I ean boldly declare, 
that the laurels they have won are not 
wilted on their brow — that the honour- 
able fame of forefathers has not been 
sullied by the degeneracy of the sons — 
that the latter succeed to their rewards 
by a far better than hereditary claim. 
There is not a department in the wide 
extended circle of knowledge, but they 
fill with reputation and success. To 
their high honour be it said, that in 
universities and academies, they occu- 
py the highest and most important 
stations; and is it going too far, my 
auditors, to say, that theirs seems pecu- 
liarly the province, of leading the 
youthful mind through the clouds of 
ignorance, and the mazes of doubt, to 
the intellectual Eden ? The parish 
pastor too ! humble, comparatively as 

It may not be improper to remark in this connexion, 
that in the great revolution which took place in the 16th 
century, there appear to be three stages : — 1st. An ex- 
citement of attention to letters, through the influence of 
learned Greeks from Constantinople (most of them pro- 
bably of the clerical order,) the patronage of Leo X, the 
discovery of ancient manuscripts in Monasteries, &c. 
&c. : 2d. A bold and successful attempt to shake oiFthe 
fetters of Popery : And, 3dly. In consequence a general 
liberty of sentiment and diffusion of knowledge. In the 
first and second, the most important part undoubtedly 
was performed by the Clergy. 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 63 

is bis walk* and lowly his pretensions, 
I would not forget. Though his name 
be never borne aloft om the pinions of 
fame ; though no son of song deigns in 
elegiae strains to eelebrate his memory, 
he also is a " light of the world," and 
dear therefore to the bosom of every 
enlightened well-wisher to the mental 
dignity of man. 

These things considered, can it be 
doubted for a moment, whether the 
withholding public sanction and pa- 
tronage from the class of men I am 
advocating, would be a fatal blow to 
intellectual improvement? On this 
subject there can be but one sentiment, 
and I am confident that my prayer 
will be re-echoed by all who hear me — 
" Distant, ever distant be that day !" 

II. The next object of attention is, 
the aspect of our subject on JfKorality ? 
or that course of conduct, both internal 
and external, which is to be pursued 
by man as a free and accountable be- 
ing, and the pursuit of which is essen- 
tial to his true happiness. Here I trust 
my advocacy will be an easier, and 
consequently a shorter task. 

That we are naturally under a law ; 
that there is, in other words, a distinc- 
tion between virtue and vice, right 
and wrong, is one of those truths which 
force themselves on the conviction of 
every mind to which they are present- 



64 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

ed. But what is this law ? How is this 
distinction to be accurately ascertain- 
ed? These are questions of serious 
difficulty. It is not denied that origi- 
nally Ood made abundant provision 
for the well-being* of his moral crea- 
tures, by writing the whole code of 
duty legibly on their consciences, and 
implanting at the same time a disposi- 
tion to obey. But it is no less evident 
that both these provisions have long 
since ceased. 

With respect to the first; though I 
would not venture to assert that man, 
if left to himself, could discover nothing 
of the nature or foundation of obliga- 
tion ; yet I think it must be on all sides 
confessed, that his knowledge in this 
case would be deplorably limited and 
defective. The doctrine of "Innate 
Ideas," and a " Moral Sense," discrim- 
inating between virtue and vice, by the 
same kind of instinct that enables a 
well-organized system of tongue and 
palate to discern sweet from bitter, is 
sufficiently exploded. An idea has in- 
deed succeeded it, and become exceed- 
ingly fashionable, that by industry in 
exercising his powers on the works of 
Creation and Providence, any and 
every human being can arrive at all 
necessary moral results. But when 
they consider the multiplicity of secu- 
lar employments and cares, renderins: 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 65 

the bestowment of this requisite indus- 
try, ill all eases difficult, and in most 
absolutely impossible, its most san- 
guine votaries must acknowledge, that 
little is to be expected from this mode 
of discovery. In confirmation of this 
remark, I appeal to the Pagan world 
in any stage of its civilization. It had 
lost its understanding, Brethren I JE ven 
its philosophers we find disputing and 
dividing on the most simple and 
strongly marked points of ethical 
science: and indeed so " blinded were 
their foolish hearts," that many of 
them, on principle and from conscience 
too, were abject slaves to the most base 
and beastly lusts. If this was the state 
of things among the wise and revered, 
what must have been the condition of 
the mass ? Alas ! we have a statement 
sufficiently gloomy by a writer * of un- 
questionable authority. 

But waving this, and granting for a 
moment that every individual of the 
human race could, and not only so, but 
actually would, discover by unassisted 
reason the whole system of moral obli- 
gation, of what value is the concession, 
so long as this remains a truth, that he 
has lost a disposition to obey ? If the 
heart be depraved, what profits an en- 
lightened understanding; and that 

* Rom. i. 

5 



66 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

there is in the breasts of all men an 
enmity to virtue and a natural prone- 
ness to be lawless, is a position which 
needs not my aid, after its confirmation 
by the experience of nearly six thou- 
sand years. 

!Let not these observations be deemed 
out of place. My object is to show, that 
the institution of a clerical order is one 
of the most admirable expedients to 
settle and enforce the great principles 
of morality ; and if, by what has been 
suggested, it is proved that the state of 
mankind pressingly needs such expe- 
dients, one important step has been 
taken in the investigation. 

But how does it operate I What is 
the precise manner of its influence in 
checking the evils that have been spe- 
cified? I regret, Brethren, that the 
narrow limits prescribed to pulpit ex- 
hibitions prevent me from attempting 
more, than to suggest the outlines of an 
answer. In the first place, it belongs 
to the ministers of religion, and them 
only, to present to the understanding a 
full and connected system of duty and 
laws, not like the Pandects of the 
statesman and philosopher, in turn 
deficient and redundant, liable to eva- 
sion, and oft injurious to the subject ; 
but in all its parts adapted to the na- 
ture, and calculated to cherish the best 
interests of man. Such, Brethren, is 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 67 

the system of morality revealed in the 
" Oospel," infidels themselves beings 
judges. What eye so blinded as not to 
see upon it tlie broad impress of the Di- 
vinity ! What tongue such " a world of 
iniquity" as to deny that its precepts 
are "true and righteous altogether, 
more to be desired than gold, yea than 
much fine gold ; sweeter also than 
honey and the honey-comb J" The 
carnal mind may rise against its re- 
quisitions, and shake off the yoke of its 
authority, but even the carnal mind is 
forced to make the mortifying confes- 
sion, that it is " holy, just, and good/' 
This was iiie true secondary cause of 
the progress of the Crospel in the apos- 
tolic age ; for so strikingly did the pu- 
rity of its morality contrast with the 
foul and despicable maxims of Pagan 
wisdom, that the most hardened heart 
could not deny its charms — could not 
but acknowledge it was more than 
reasonable — it was divine* 

In the -n.eiLt place, it is the province of 
the Oospel Minister to present along 
with a pure and lovely morality, the 
only satisfactory grounds on which it 
is obligatory upon the conscience ; I 
mean " the authority of the Great Crod 
of heaven and earth." After all the 
boasted discoveries of reason and phi- 
losophy, we may rest assured, my hear- 
ers, that the only firm tie of human 



68 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

obligation is that which hinds the crea- 
ture to the heavenly throne ! Talk to 
a man, urged on by lawless passion, of 
the intrinsic reasonableness of mor- 
tifying his appetites s read to him the 
profoundest dissertation on " The Na- 
ture of Things," "Eternal Fitness," 
and "The Good of the Whole;" de- 
claim till you are weary on the beauties 
of virtue and deformity of vice : but if 
you imagine that by these cords you 
can fetter the Sampson of infuriate lust, 
you will experience a wretched disap- 
pointment. You " sow to the wind and 
will reap the whirlwind," on the most 
favourable supposition % the supposition 
that your reasoning is understood : if 
failing here, what success can be ex- 
pected in the lower and uninstructed 
classes of society ? What knows yonder 
peasant of your "Abstract Fitnesses" 
and " Utility ?" By what spell will you 
operate conviction in his uncultivated 
soul; and subduing all the natural 
propensities of his bosom, induce him to 
forsake the evil and perform the good? 
Brethren, I know but one, and take 
that away, you remove the only ram- 
part of morality — I mean a " Thus saith 
the Liord," re-echoing through his tem- 
ple from the lips of the herald. Ah! 
this he understands, this he feels, and 
with reverential homage bows before 
the heaven-sent mandate ! ! 



FLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY, 



But the Gospel minister has not yet 
exhausted his armoury. He brings to 
bear the tremendous destinies of eter- 
nity, the sanctions of everlasting pun- 
ishment and reward. Now he unlocks 
the portals of the pavilion of the Great 
King, and unfolds the bliss and glo- 
ries of that inheritance which is " in- 
corruptible, undeliled, and which fa- 
deth not away ; reserved in heaven 
for those who are kept by the power 
of God through faith unto salvation ;" 
—Wow at his command 

" On a sudden open fly, 



With impetuous recoil and jarring- sound, 
The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 
Harsh thunder," 

revealing the horrid secrets of the 
chambers of despair ! 

Is this all ? nay 9 the rich field of mo- 
tive is but beginning to be explored. 
Now, the Eternal Father is depicted 
looking down with infinite compas- 
sion on a guilty world, and staying 
the exterminating angel by the blessed 
proclamation from the throne of his 
glory, "I>eliver them from going 
down to the pit, I have found a ran- 
som !" Now, the Cross of Calvary is the 
theme of song, and in " strains sweet 
as angels use" are pourtrayed the 
wonder* of redeeming love ! 



70 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

With such gigantic resources, we 
may boldly ask, how can a Minister of 
the Gospel, officiating from week to 
week, (whatever be his personal de- 
ficiencies) avoid producing effects on 
the moral sentiment of his audience? 
It is true, that he may not in all or 
many cases attain the direct object of 
his official mission ; that his ministra- 
tions may not be the power of God unto 
salvation ; still, however, the mere pe- 
riodical statement of truths so grand 
and glorious, must have an incalcula- 
ble, though indirect influence on the 
habits of a people : it must produce a 
pure and hallowed atmosphere, com- 
municating moral health and bloom, 
and vigour, to all within its circle. It 
is indeed a fact much to be regretted, 
that with many, the affecting burden 
of their message is made subordinate 
to the miserable effusions of party 
zeal ; that the sublime and eternal 
truths of God and godliness, are so 
often enveloped in the mystic and un- 
intelligible jargon of the sect. But let 
us remember, Brethren, that no insti- 
tution, however perfect in itself, is in 
the hands of men more than a partial 
good: However, therefore, we may 
lament the folly and misconduct allu- 
ded to, (and surely it cannot be too 
much lamented,) it not in the least de- 
tracts from the correctness of the asser- 



PLEA FOR A 6TANDING MINISTRY, /I 

tion that " take it all in all," the Pul- 
pit 

" Must stand acknowledged while the world shall stand, 
The most important and effectual guard, 
Support, and ornament of Virtue's cause.'' 

These remarks I have made, confi- 
dent that I am standing on the broad 
and firm basis of undeniable fact. 
Where, I ask, would the philanthro- 
pist go to find the lovelier traits of hu- 
man nature ; to see meekness, modesty, 
charity, with all their kindred graces, 
in their fullest and fairest bloom ? To 
the land of Churches, — Pastors, — Sab- 
baths. "Where do we expect to find 
man warring with his fellow— sordid 
— selfish — so basely sunk from dignity 
and virtue, — that even his brute must 
condescend to do him reverence? In 
those parched wildernesses where no 
dew of heavenly instruction falls ; 
where the fountain of the house of Is- 
rael is not opened ! 

Oh ! how cheering to the sick and 
weary traveller, after journeying to- 
wards the close of the day, surrounded 
with images of moral death, and brood- 
ing over the thick and damning proofs 
starting up in quick succession, of the 
wretchedness and crime of his species — 
suddenly, through a forest's nodding 
tops, to catch a glimpse of the tall spire 



72 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

of a " Village Church" glittering in the 
western ray : " Ifonder — yonder," (he 
exclaims) " 1 behold a spot of verdure 
in the howling waste, on which my tor- 
tured feelings can repose ; there, will I 
find some moral loveliness to compen- 
sate for the past; there, is some kind 
heart that throbs for the sorrows of 
another ; there, is some kind hand 
open to the necessities of the wretched, 
there, will I meet a brother!!" — and 
he is not deceived % my life on it — he is 
not deceived. 

In further illustration, I would point 
out to you the rapid and astonishing ef- 
fects of the establishment of the living 
messenger, in new and barbarous dis- 
tricts of country. Have we not heard 
things on this subject almost incredi- 
ble ? Have we not heard of men with 
nothing but their Bibles in their hands, 
merging themselves in our western fo- 
rest, and in a very few months, sending 
forth from the bosom of the wilderness, 
the thrilling tidings that " by the grace 
of God" they had created little gardens 
of the liord, blooming and blossoming 
as the rose ; that the drunkard, the 
profligate, the vindictive, the vile out- 
cast from society, were become trees of 
righteousness, planted by rivers of liv- 
ing water, and yielding fruit which 
maketh glad the heart of both God and 
man ? ]>oes not the Missionary's shout 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 73 

of " Victory !" still from time to time 
vibrate on our ears from one section 
of country, and— another, and— ano- 
ther? 

Thank God, these facts are so notori- 
ous that they cease to surprise : we lis- 
ten to the accounts of the herald of the 
cross, with the idea that such revolu- 
tions are things of course ; the natural 
consequence of the establishment ?f the 
Christian priesthood. 

III. Your attention is now requested 
to the third subject of inquiry— the ef- 
fects of a Religious Ministry on social 
order* To those who are convinced of 
the correctness of the observations just 
made, this point may appear already 
settled, and put beyond the need of 
further illustration. If " righteousness 
exalteth a nation; 99 if the strongest 
and most enduring bulwark of politi- 
cal happiness, be the integrity of the 
body of the people ; it will necessarily 
follow* that the Institution I am advo- 
cating occupies no mean rank among; 
the safeguards of the public weal. It 
may not be amiss, however, to enter 
into a short detail. 

What is a well-ordered civil polity ? 
Without pretending to give a formal 
definition, we may describe it to be a 
" voluntary association of men, in 
which each individual sacrifices some 
private rights for the undisturbed pos- 



74 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

session of the rest; binds himself to 
conformity with certain established 
regulations, and engages obedience to 
certain constituted authorities.' ' JBut 
to effect a combination of this kind, it 
is evident there must be certain princi- 
ples of union in those who compose it. 
To give an example — If Government 
be a voluntary association of indivi- 
duals for the good of the whole ; there 
must be found in each, a spirit of ac- 
commodation, and mutual regard. If 
private rights are to be sacrificed; 
then, natural self-will, is to be super- 
seded by deference to the rights of 
others, and a disposition to do unto 
others as we would that they should do 
unto us. If obedience be expected to 
certain constituted authorities ; who 
sees not the necessity of meekness, do- 
cility, and self-government? On the 
same principle it might easily be 
shown, that benevolence, temperance, 
industry, and all the moral virtues are 
the proper roots of the fair tree of poli- 
tical happiness. When these, its na- 
tural support, are rotten and decayed 
— vain are all the props of armies, na- 
vies, and legislative provision : the first 
blast from the wilderness levels it with 
all its honours to the ground. Under a 
sense of this, all discerning govern- 
ments have acted ; under the impres- 
sion that the higher they could elevate 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 75 

the tone of publie morality, the more 
firmly they secured their own stability, 
they have enacted laws, held forth 
rewards, endowed academies and 
schools, not so much to accomplish any 
direct political object, as to diffuse cor- 
rect and sobered habits through the 
community. They acted wisely, breth- 
ren ! These are the means, under God, 
of guarding, and transmitting from 
father to son the palladium of social 
order and felicity. 

But the enumeration is defective ; 
and no considerations of prudish mo- 
desty, of morbid, rather let me call it 
affected delicacy, prevent me from ad- 
ding to it " The Christian JfKinistry." 
In using the phrase Christian JfKnis- 
try, I of course 'will not be understood 
as referring to those incarnate dae- 
mons of the eleventh, twelfth, and 
thirteenth centuries, whom €*od Al- 
mighty in his tierce indignation flung 
into the world to cairse it % and who, in 
the disguise of priests, did curse it to a 
degree unparalled in its annals. I 
simply mean an order of men employ- 
ed in religion, performing their ap- 
propriate duties, and very respectable 
specimens of whom are found scatter- 
ed in every direction through our land. 
Let none deny my right to make this 
distinction : so long as the existence of 
tyrants, proves nothing against a 



76 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

standing magistracy, so long as the 
horrors of a degenerate democracy 
are no argument against a well gov- 
erned republic ; so long I have a right, 
to distinguish between an institution, 
and its perversion by the depravity 
of men. This remark was in sub- 
stance made in a former part of the 
discussion, and it is now repeated, to 
serve as a full answer to the stale and 
pitiful exception made against the 
Clergy, from the blighting influence 
of the Roman hierarchy, on the civil 
governments connected with it. In 
that case, let it be remembered, we find 
the order in its worst and degenerate 
stage — rotten to the core, and almost 
deprived of identity, when compared 
with itself in other days, life have 
reason to thank God, that in our land 
at least, it has returned to first princi- 
ples, and the progress of moral and 
political light, forbids the apprehen- 
sion that it will soon degenerate into 
an enemy of the public and people. 
On the contrary, we have every reason 
to hope, that the once fallen star, will 
long continue to move in its legitimate 
orbit; and by diffusing a kind and 
wholesome influence on the moral, 
prove the richest benefaction to the 
political world. 

But to form proper conceptions on 
this subject, more is to be taken into 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 77 

consideration than the mere fact, that 
the Clergy are the professed and official 
inculcators of virtuous sentiment. Our 
estimate must include all those venera- 
ble institutions connected with them ; 
and which, with them, always stand 
or fall. 

Who can calculate the political be- 
nefits of the Christian Sabbath ; that 
admirable check to progress in crime, 
by which one day in seven regularly 
interposes to insulate schemes of re- 
venge — break the impetus of the tor- 
rent of corruption — interrupt, and per- 
haps prevent the formation of disorga- 
nizing habits in the community ? This 
may appear to some a reflection of tri- 
fling moment; but it will be judged of 
very differently by those who duly con- 
sider it. Add to the Sabbath the Pub" 
tic Assembly ; the solemn gathering of 
the whole body of a people in a certain 
district, at stated periods, to hear the 
message of peace and salvation — to lis- 
ten to the ever welcome story of a Sa- 
viour's love—- to vow before the altar 
mutual love — and sit together at a feast 
of love. A stronger pledge of social love 
is scarce conceivable. Can anarchy 
lift up its hideous front among a peo- 
ple united by such tender bonds? — or 
if it does, will not the recollections that 
once they went up hand in hand " to 
the house of the Xord, to the house of 



78 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 

the mighty Ood of Jacob; 99 there took 
sweet counsel together, and pledged 
one another in a cup of Mood ; will not 
these recollections sweeten the bitter- 
ness of enmity 9 soften the horrors ot 
the contending scene, and fling some 
rays of light athwart the dark desola- 
tion ? © yes ! They Trill, they must, Bre- 
thren ; — so long as man is man, how- 
ever degraded and debased I 

Would to God, these things were bet- 
ter considered hy the counsellors and 
rulers of our land s It is to be hoped, 
the consideration would materially in- 
fluence their conduct. Instead of look- 
ing down on our sacred institutions as 
things beneath their notice, or only no- 
ticing them, to degrade them into pan- 
ders to the base lust for popularity; 
they would join heart to hand in scatter- 
ing flowers around the altar, and (if I 
may be permitted the expression) bow 
before its minister as " The tutelary Ge- 
nius of their country." It is told of one 
of our celebrated statesmen, (his name 
is not recollected, and much less cared 
for,) that some years ago passing 
through a part of New-England,* and 
approaching one of its village Church- 
es he directed to it the notice of his com- 
panion, at the same time exclaiming, 
H Yonder is one of our public I\ uisan- 

* Or Virginia 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 



79 



ces." The story may possibly be un- 
founded : but if true, it is a pity the 
pitiful libeller bud not afterwards re- 
fleeted, that when the base insult was 
made public, nothing eould have pro- 
tected him from the rage of an indig- 
nant people, and prevented his dis- 
jointed carcass from being flung to the 
four winds of heaven, but the very prin- 
ciples of Social Order regularly inculca- 
ted front these public JYuisances I I 

In fine, let our lawgivers ponder on 
this unutterably serious truth : that if 
they truly desire to see a death-blow to 
all those malignant passions which are 
the disgrace and curse of social man — 
if they truly desire to see the whole in- 
fernal brood of malice, avarice, lawless 
ambition, and revenge, driven back to 
their native dens — if they truly desire 
to see politically verified (as we know 
it will be) that blessed promise, " The 
wolf shall lie down with the lamb, and 
the leopard with the kid, and the calf 
and young lion, and fatling together, 
and a little child shall lead them; 99 
they must consider it their most bound- 
en duty, their highest interest, to be 
" nursing fathers 99 to a Christian min- 
istry. 

IT. We hasten to the last point of in- 
quiry — The influence of the Religious 
Order on the eternal destinies of man 
as a creature accountable to Crod. 



80 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

Brethren, I confess that I feel at this 
moment something like a sentiment of 
painful self-condemnation pressing on 
my mind, as I almost fear I have been 
abusing your indulgence, and trifling 
with the most affecting of all subjects: 
For what are the glories of Science, 
what the advantages of refinement, 
what the interests of nations, balanced 
with the redemption of the immortal 
spirit — that ethereal spark within, 
which survives them all and lives for 
ever? Does our subject have bearings 
on this ? Yes, my auditors ; and bear- 
ings immeasurably important. God 
forbid that in discussing the advanta- 
ges of a Religious Ministry, this truth 
be forgotten, " We are ambassadors 
for Christ, as though God did beseech 
you by us"'—" We pray you in Christ's 
stead, be ye reconciled to God." 

That we are sinners, and consequent- 
ly under divine malediction, is a posi- 
tion too evident to be denied. Every 
man has a witness in himself s Orien- 
tal fable is not the mere dream of a 
distempered imagination, for who has 
not felt the " fire in the brain" of an 
accusing conscience ? Some are in- 
deed found, who pretend to give this 
idea a practical refutation. Of these I 
need only say, that could we penetrate 
their bosoms — could we follow them to 
the " deep solitudes and awful cells" of 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 81 

contemplation— could ire tell the mean- 
ing of that thrill, those tremors, which 
succeed the mention of " eternity," we 
would be better able to appreciate the 
value of their boastings. 

But it is not my business to prove 
what the Spirit of God has established 
beyond all gain-saying in his word : 
There, in characters he who runs may 
read, are written the blood-curdling 
truths, " all have sinned," — " the soul 
that sinneth it shall die !" For ever 
blessed be the name of our Ood! he 
hath put forth all the infinite compas- 
sions of his bosom, to invent and exe- 
cute a system of honourable restora- 
tion. We are informed that "he so 
loved the world, that he gave his only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
on him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life." We are also inform- 
ed, that to this Son, in recompense of 
his mediatorial work, hath been trans- 
ferred the whole administration of this 
system ; and accordingly, wta sooner 
did he burst the bands of death, than 
he formally instituted an order of men, 
to make known his salvation, and ef- 
fectuate his benevolent purposes to our 
apostate race. " All power is given me 
in heaven and earth ; go ye, therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptising them 
in the name of the Father, the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost t teaching them to 



82 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

observe all tilings whatsoever 1 have 
commanded you; and lo I am with 
you alway, even to the end of the 
world." This address of Jesus to his 
disciples, is the religious order's Char- 
ter of Incorporation, granted them 
from the great King of Zion himself, 
and clearly specifying their official 
duties* In obedience to the terms pre- 
scribed in it, they are to warn sinners 
of the wrath to come ? announce the 
unsearchable treasures of blessing in 
the Lord Emmanuel ; and unfold the 
nature of that " new birth," without 
which no man can enter the kingdom 
of God. They are to convince the 
careless, encourage the fearful, and 
bind up the broken heart. They are 
to visit the abodes of poverty, igno- 
rance, and sorrow; enriching them; 
pouring into them tl\e light of heaven ; 
and tilling them with life-giving con- 
solation. "When accompanied with 
the Master's benediction, their feeblest 
efforts are mighty to the pulling down 
of strong holds ; their bluntest arrows 
are " sharp in the hearts of the king's 
enemies." In tine, they are God's fa- 
vourite instruments in executing the 
most magnificent and gracious purpose 
that ever entered his infinite mind ; 
and in testimony of his peculiar appro- 
bation, he hath promised, "they shall 
shine as the stars for ever and ever." 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 83 

I would not. Brethren, be understood 
as interfering- with any of the secret 
arrangements of the Divinity, or as as- 
serting that salvation is confined with- 
in the narrow limits of a preached Gos- 
pel. God have mercy on those fero- 
cious heart-murderers, who please 
themselves with the sentiment that he 
has no mercy on their fellows. We 
dare, however, to affirm, with the ut- 
most boldness, with the full belief that 
truth not only warrants but requires 
the affirmation, that the fact, of God's 
withholding his servants from a parti- 
cular nation or district, is a powerful 
presumptive evidence of his having no 
great or extensive designs of mercy in 
its behalf. This is a subject which ob- 
viously admits of much amplification, 
but which, it is equally obvious, needs 
it not. I present to you, beloved audi- 
tors, the naked scriptural fact, that a 
Gospel Ministry is the standing ordi- 
nance of the great God for the salvation 
of sinners, has been, and probably ever 
will be ; confident that it requires no aid 
from an artificial oratory, to make its 
way to the hearts of all who hear me. 
Omitting a particular notice of the 
vast field of inference naturally open- 
ed by the subject, I will conclude with 
one reflection, and the application of 
it to the occasion, on. which we are as- 
sembled. 



84 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

On a review of the whole, it must be 
evident to every candid mind, that 
none need be ashamed of cherishing 
and patronising the order of men, call- 
ed the H Clergy/ 5 This I cannot help 
thinking would be universally ac- 
knowledged, were it not for the abject 
slavery of many to their associations ; 
for their recollection of what the reli- 
gious order once was, during the pe- 
riod of anti-christian oppression. It 
must be confessed, that on the Priests 
has fallen a woful share of the Sinai tic 
curse, H I the Lord thy CJod — visiting 
the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children unto the third and fourth ge- 
neration :" why otherwise that lurking 
sneer, that haughty supercilious smile, 
called up in certain countenances, by 
the most distant reference to them in 
conversation ? Now, I ask, is this rea- 
sonable ? Is it manly ? I certainly am 
no enemy to the doctrine of imputa- 
tion ; but it is a most dangerous wea- 
pon in the hands of a fool ; and I beg 
permission therefore to express my se- 
rious doubt, whether Heaven ever in- 
tended it for indiscriminate use. 

It is to be hoped, however, that the 
silly prejudice I am speaking of is 
gradually dying away, and that the 
Gospel minister is rising in the estima- 
tion of all classes of the community, but 
those whose censure is eulogy and 



PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY 85 

praise disgrace. Long may this con- 
tinue to be the ease % and so long it most 
assuredly will continue, as the increase 
of intellectual light, the advancement 
of the best temporal interests of indivi- 
dual or social man ; but, above all, the 
salvation of the never-dying spirit from 
the bosom of despair, to a life eternal 
in the heavens, are objects dear to hu- 
man sensibilities. 

I ask, then, Brethren, your patron- 
age for the association in whose behalf 
we are assembled this evening. Its 
design is to supply our destitute fron- 
tier settlements with a regular Chris- 
tian Ministry ; by this means to diffuse 
in that interesting section of our coun- 
try, the blessings of civilization and 
religion, and impress on it while in its 
infant state habits essential to its pros- 
perity and that of our nation at large ; 
habits which shall " grow with its 
growth and strengthen with its 
strength/ 9 If you think our enterprise 
an honourable one % if you have confi- 
dence in our ability to conduct it, you 
will of course be liberal in your contri- 
butions, " as Crod hath prospered you." 

Permit me to put you in remem- 
brance, that you are not called togeth- 
er merely to enrich our coffers at the 
expense of your own. Whatever be the 
ostensible object of the " Young Men's 
Missionary Society." 0*»d. in his provi- 



86 PLEA FOR A STANDING MINISTRY. 

denee. has one far more noble and 
important* It is to test the measure of 
your esteem for liis favourite institu- 
tion, an institution, whieh lias done 
more for liis glory and tlie welfare of 
man, titan any other human or divine 
— an institution at whieh devils trem- 
ble, and whieh angels honour. He 
calls you to aid in its support, not that 
he needs your services, but because he 
delights to find in you dispositions kin- 
dred to his own* 

Improve then the opportunity pre- 
sented* Tour benevolence this evening 
will never prove a source of unpleasant 
recollections % Wo gloomy spectres will 
it call up to haunt you. On the con- 
trary, it may be one of those few, alas ! 
beloved hearers, with all of us too few, 
consolatory incidents, on which you 
can pillow your dying heads ! 

God enable you to act on this, and on 
every occasion, under a solemn sense ot 
your duty and responsibilities* 



SERMON 

IN VINDICATION OP THE 

RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 

PREACHED APRIL 9TH, 1820, IN THE MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH, NEW-YORK, ON THE 
ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW-YORK MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 

BY ALEXANDER M'GLELLAND, D. D. 

Professor in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
New- Brunswick, JV*. /. 






" Others mocking, said, These men are 
drunk with new wine." — Acts ii. 13. 

This was the language of certain He- 
brew wits, on witnessing the marvel- 
lous effects of the first effusion of the 
Holy Spirit on the primitive disciples 
of our ascended I^ord. They appear to 
have belonged to that numerous and 
respectable class of observers, who with 
extraordinary pretensions to liberal- 
ity, nevertheless contrive to settle them- 
selves in the conviction of the honest 
Hermit, who believed that the sun 
shone no where except in his own cell, 
and who reject the plainest truths, 
when the belief of them will interfere 
with any favourite conceits or habits of 
thinking to which they have been long 
habituated. In the present case, facts 
were before them, with an evidence, 



88 VINDICATION OF THE 

we might suppose, entirely irresistible. 
It was impossible for them to question, 
that an astonishing revolution had 
been wrought, and that, suddenly ? on 
the persons whose eonduet they were 
marking. Though, perhaps, not per- 
sonally present when the prelimina- 
ries took plaee, they had full demon- 
stration % as full as oral testimony could 
give, that eloven tongues sat upon 
them, and that a mighty preternatu- 
ral wind filled the house : and now they 
were hearing, with their own ears, 
these fishermen of Galilee, speaking 
in innumerable foreign languages, in- 
somuch that Parthians, Medes, Phry- 
gians, Romans, Cretes, and Barba- 
rians, lift up their hands, in utter 
amazement, and exclaim to one ano- 
ther, * 4 What meaneth this ? We do 
hear them speak, in our own tongues, 
the wonderful works of God!" But 
what was their conclusion ? Precisely 
such as might be expected from little 
and shrivelled minds, pent up in the 
dungeon of their own contracted no- 
tions. Totally disqualified to enter in- 
to the merits of the case, and finding 
nothing in their preconceived maxims 
that harmonised with the august scene 
that opened on them, they view it with 
the most profound incredulity, and, 
at once, explain the whole phenome- 
non, by the oracular judgment of the 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 89 

text. This trait of intellectual charac- 
ter is not rarely found in the world, and 
many, we fear, are the literati of re- 
nown, who, if weighed in the balance 
of plain common sense, would be 
forced to take their place among these 
ancient sages, who, to escape the ab- 
surdity of acknowledging their own 
ignorance, adopted the theory, that 
strong drink can teach languages. 

On this subject, the little history, in 
connection with the text, inculcates a 
very profitable lesson. It administers 
a forcible reproof to all those adorers 
of their own little intellects, who make 
themselves the world, by which they try 
other worlds; a partial and limited 
observation, the measure of all things 
human and divine. It teaches the pro- 
priety of a cautious, humble, and mo- 
dest temper, when we decide on the 
opinions of others ; since it is very pos- 
sible that we view them through a false 
medium, or with undue prepossessions, 
or without that acquaintance with the 
premises which can qualify us to arbi- 
trate. It, likewise, warns us against 
all precipitance, in condemning the 
feelings and conduct of others ; suggest- 
ing the very important reflection, that 
what we may be disposed to call absur- 
dity, may be only a repugnance with 
certain absurdities of our own; and 
that the spirit we condemn may owe 



90 ; VINDICATION OF THE 

its misfortune, not to any intrinsic 
demerit, but to our entire inability 
to enter into, or appreciate it — a case, 
we believe, of very frequent occur- 
rence* 

It is my intention, on the present oc- 
casion, to attempt the correction of one 
of these unfavourable prejudgments ; 
and one, which we think, peculiarly 
injurious, whether it be regarded in its 
influence on society, or the individuals 
by whom, or against whom it is exer- 
cised. We presume there are none in 
this assembly who are ignorant of the 
fact, that during the last fifteen years 
the church has been exposing herself, 
for the first time since the Apostolic 
days, to a charge, somewhat resem- 
bling that alleged in the te^&t against 
the primitive disciples. An extraordi- 
nary and unparalleled excitement 
prevails through Christendom, char- 
acterized hy an earnest zeal for the 
advancement of true religion, both at 
home and abroad, but more especially 
by an irrepressible desire for evange- 
lizing the Heathen, and by this means, 
accomplishing the promise, that " the 
mountain of the lord's house shall be 
established upon the tops of the moun- 
tains, and all nations shall flow unto 
it." Zion appears to have awoke from 
the slumber of ages, and put on her 
armour, and resolved, in the might of 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 91 

the Lord, to take possession of the rich 
inheritance bequeathed to her, but 
which, through her criminal apathy 
and sloth, has been so long in the un- 
disturbed possession of her enemies. 
Christians are seriously entering into 
the grand project of christianizing and 
civilizing the globe, and are looking 
forward to a period, when there shall 
not be a tribe in Tartary's wilds which 
shall not offer to the L^ord offerings of 
righteousness and praise ! They are 
looking forward not merely with hope, 
but with confidence ; not with the 
idleness of simple expectation, but with 
the conviction, that this glorious con- 
summation shall be brought about 
through their exertions ; and accord- 
ingly, they are standing up to the work, 
like men, with a fixedness of purpose, 
and a calmness of resolution most as- 
tonishing. Nothing more remarkably 
distinguishes this excitement ; than its 
steadiness and continuance. Unlike 
other moral epidemics, which soon at- 
tain their height, and sink as rapidly 
as they rise, this is gathering new 
strength from day to day. Ii ike Aaron's 
rod it swallows up every thing that 
comes in competition with it, triumph- 
ing over the love of self, the love of ease, 
the love of sect, and, above all, the in- 
nate repugnance of men to expend 
their money and time in the prosecu- 



92 VINDICATION OF THE 

lion of schemes which will not imme- 
diately reward their pains. 

Now there are not a few who, by no 
means admire this remarkable aspect 
of the religious world 5 nay, who view 
it with feelings of positive dislike. 
The great excellency on which they 
pride themselves, is a calmness and 
sobriety of thinking*, a strong disposi- 
tion to recoil from every thing fanciful 
and visionary, and, as to religious en- 
thusiasm, they detest the very name. 
Having thus the happiness of seeing 
things dispassionately, and as they 
really are, they have come to the firm 
conclusion, that all those schemes for 
ameliorating the condition of the 
world, on a great and extensive scale, 
are just about as wise and plausible as 
the pursuit of the philosopher's stone, or 
perpetual motion, or any other of the 
numerous absurdities which have is- 
sued from the brains of projectors. 
They clearly see that your Bible Socie- 
ties, and Missionary Societies, and 
Education Societies, are nothing more 
nor less than new forms of fanaticism ; 
more harmless, indeed, than the forms 
that went before ; but as certain to be 
followed by disappointment and the 
world's contempt. With these views, 
they feel bound as men of sense and 
consistency, to shew them no favour in 
their practice. 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 1)3 

There are others who do not consid- 
er them in a light quite so unfavoura- 
ble, nor do they scruple to lend them 
their occasional sanction and assis- 
tance. But still they have their strong 
suspicions, and even in the act of yield- 
ing to the entreaties of the preacher, 
or some Christian friend, they cannot 
divest themselves of the impression 
that they might as usefully have 
thrown their money into mid ocean. 
This, we believe, is the more common 
feeling which prevails on the subject, 
a scepticism, a jealousy, an opinion, 
on the whole, that the project though 
innocent and well intended, is utterly 
futile and vain. They do not reflect 
that the great obstacle to success is the 
apathy of those who are so ready to 
prophesy failure ; and who, influenced 
hy their own predictions, will not come 
" to the help of the JLord, to the help of 
the liord against the mighty !" 

It may be worth our pains, therefore, 
to offer a few considerations tending 
to blunt the edge of these prejudices, 
and to show, that so far from their be- 
ing reasonable and well founded, there 
is something in the religious spirit of 
the age, which gives it commanding 
claims to the respect and active sup- 
port of every sincere lover of Ood, and 
well-wisher to man. I am fully sensi- 
ble, that to a large proportion of those 



94 VINDICATION OF THE 

who compose this respectable audi- 
ence, a discussion of tiiis kind may 
seem entirely superfluous. We doubt 
not that many of you have long: since 
proved by your practice that you are 
decided friends to the generous fanat- 
cism whose cause we -would plead s yet 
it may be hoped, that even such will 
not feel entirely uninterested in an at- 
tempt to obviate the scruples of those 
who have not the happiness of being 
like minded* and whose co-operation 
it would be most desirable to obtain. 
They will permit me therefore, to ad- 
dress myself particularly to these, and 
perhaps the result of our vindication 
may be their own additional establish- 
ment in the truths we wish to incul- 
cate. 

I. In meeting the charge alleged 
against the spirit and projects which 
of late have become so extensively 
popular, let us admit the assumed fact 
in all its extent. " The Christian 
world is cherishing unfounded expec- 
tations — amusing itself with gazing 
on a bubble in the sunbeam. The 
schemes for the amelioration of the 
great human family are impractica- 
ble." Admit it all. Still we he^ leave 
to promise an argument in behalf of 
this moral intoxication, which shall 
constrain the coldest doubter to except 
it from that contempt with which his 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 95 

philosophic spirit usually regards en- 
thusiastic excitements. 

I begin with asking him if he has 
ever reflected on the redeeming quality 
to be found in the principles and motives 
from which it has originated. I believe 
the fiercest advocates of moderation 
will readily allow that there are cer- 
tain cases of over-heated imagination, 
which it is impossible to contemplate 
without sentiments of esteem decided- 
ly preponderating over those of dis- 
like. When we see, for instance, a 
man fraught with sensibility, mistak- 
ing the aspirations of his warm heart 
for the conclusions of sober judgment, 
and, carried away by their influence 
throwing himself upon an impracti- 
cable enterprise, we may bestow one 
thought on his too obvious indiscre- 
tion ; but how soon is it lost sight of in 
the splendour of his virtue ! We re- 
spect the very dreams of such a man, 
when, giving way to the seducements 
of fancy, he paints some Atalantis or 
Utopia, some land of pure delight, 
where love and joy perpetual reign ; 
forgetting that it is but the baseless fa- 
bric of a vision, too splendid to be real- 
ized in this vale of vicissitude and wo. 
We admire a philanthropic Howard, 
spending his life in visiting the abodes 
of wretchedness and despair, though 
perhaps, not one in a thousand has 



96 VINDICATION OF THE 

ever put the question, what ameliora- 
tion he ever succeeded in effecting. 
The mere spectacle of such godlike 
beneficence puts to flight every thing 
like sober calculation, and we gladly 
surrender ourselves to the thrilling 
emotions it excites ! 

I need say but little to explain the 
bearing of these reflections on the point 
before us. Whatever be the insupera- 
ble difficulties which lie in the way of 
the great Christian scheme, the excel- 
lence of the object and the motives 
which have induced its prosecution, 
are above all praise : Here we find 
ourselves in an impregnable fortress. 
The object is to raise to the I>eity a tri- 
bute of glory from this fair creation — to 
extend the knowledge of his Son, 
through whom alone, he has been 
pleased to manifest his glory — to eman- 
cipate the family of man from the 
thraldom of ignorance and sin; and 
from the pressure of that fatal curse, 
which, for six thousand years, has rest- 
ed on by far the greatest part of this 
habitable globe. To enter on this ar- 
duous task — Christians have been im- 
pelled by motives as pure as the object 
is glorious ; by the disinterested desire, 
that, " the will of God be done on earth, 
as it is in heaven," by considering the 
deplorable condition of those who 
have no God, and by the conviction, 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 9? 

that a§ God lias made of " one blood all 
nations of tlte earth," so all are capa- 
ble of being- restored to the felicity and 
prerogatives of their exalted nature. 
Sow, we appeal to the soberest thinker, 
whether the charge of extravagance, 
in such an undertaking, be not the 
highest eulogy? For to what does it 
amount ? Simply to this. The fervours 
of their benevolence have carried them 
so far beyond themselves, have so over- 
reached their judgment and powers 
of accurate calculation, that they have 
given themselves up to the most de- 
lightful fantasies, and actually cherish 
the idea that the period is not far dis- 
tant, when this terrible aceldama, this 
shocking theatre of tragedy and crime 
shall be restored to the favour of its 
celestial proprietor ; and become what 
it was ever &esi§gme& to be, a Paradise 
of Gtod! Compare, nay brethren, this 
noble frenzy with the chilling ration- 
ality which would fain displace it, 
and give it over to contempt: compare 
them, after giving to iUe latter all it 
asks, the concession that it is prudently 
in the right. It condemns you to hope- 
less despair. "With ruthless hand it 
tears down the only refuge to which, 
sickened with the sight and tales of wo, 
you can fly for comfort and relief. It 
tells you in short, "€*o, weep over a 
cursed world, doomed to perpetual 



98 VINDICATION OF THE 

desolation." The advocates of this 
withering hypothesis may glory as 
they please in their wonder ous discern- 
ment, their calm philosophy, their 
freedom from the trammels of preju- 
dice. But dearly do they purchase 
their triumph. It is scarcely possible 
that the milk of human kindness can 
flow in a breast that has given it ad- 
mission. Even if a truth, it is one 
which Almighty God does not require 
us to believe, and which no man, en- 
dowed with the least tenderness of feel- 
ing, can for a moment think of without 
horror, and at the same time, a strenu- 
ous endeavour to practise a delusion 
upon his understanding in respect to it. 
I now proceed to present the subject 
in a point of view somewhat different, 
and ask whether the persons -whose se- 
rene minds revolt from the spirit which 
at present prevails in the christian 
world on the score of its supposed in- 
temperance, have well considered, that 
some portion of this evil is essential in alt 
departments to vigorous and successful 
exertion. Man is the child of passion, 
and acts well only when under the in- 
fluence of high and powerful excite- 
ment. Calm philosophy is an instruc- 
tive and pleasing companion no doubt ; 
but calm philosophy has seldom led her 
votary up the toilsome steep to his high 
destination. To do this he must feel; 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 99 

lie must feel deeply ; a lire inust be kin- 
dled in lii§ bosom which many waters 
cannot quench 5 then shall he achieve 

what to common minds i§ little short of 
miracle. This truth is exemplified in 
all the great national revolutions 
which have been witnessed on earth. 
Have ever the shaMes of a tyrant been 
broken by abstract reasoning? Where 
is the people who have redeemed their 
rights unless ~hy the exhibition of a 
glorious fanaticism for liberty ? It is 
true, an unenlightened and ill-directed 
zeal is often the parent of most fatal 
disorders. But who, reasoning from 
this fact, would give his sanction to an 
unmanly apathy, a waveless calm, a 
slumber of the dead? Who does not 
exclaim, " Better numberless disor- 
ders, better a thousand noble ventures 
beyond the cold rules of prudence and 
statute technicalities, than that palsy 
of the soul, suffering under which, a 
whole people can forget that they are 
men, and place their willing necks be- 
neath the foot of some domineering 
despot ?" 

In connection with this, I may also 
remark, that the wise observer will 
find no difficulty in conniving at the 
sin of even extravagant hopes anil anti* 
cipations* The power of sentiment over 
the judgment is well known, and the 
man who feels deeply, seldom thinks 



100 VINDICATION OF THE 

correctly. £lated with the idea of a 
magnificent undertaking, he is not apt 
to judge of it precisely as he would of 
a mathematical theorem in the soli- 
tude of his closet 5 but this very inac- 
curacy we love, not merely because of 
the object and motive, (this considera- 
tion has been already before you,) but 
on account of its direct connection with 
success. We admire the very falsehoods 
of a people awaking to a sense of their 
degradation 5 and if, in the raptures of 
their first love to freedom, they paint in 
the distant horizon gay and brilliant, 
but unsubstantial visions, we know 
that they are not only harmless, but 
have the effect of animating their cou- 
rage and inspiring them with a heroic 
fortitude : It is their very extravagance 
which keeps alive their virtue and se- 
cures their political salvation. Our 
conclusion then in reference to the sub- 
ject before us, is that Christians in pro- 
secuting their schemes for the amelio- 
ration of the human family, are pro- 
secuting them in the best possible tem- 
per for success. Aware of the number- 
less difficulties in the way, they are very 
wisely working themselves up into that 
sort of vehemence and tention of spirit 
which is absolutely necessary to bring 
their enterprise to a prosperous com- 
pletion. They are enthusiastic, they 
are extravagant, they are fanatical on 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 101 

policy and principle, because they are 
convinced that it is only a prodigious 
preternatural effort which shall ena- 
ble them to make the most distant ap- 
proximation to their object ! We meet, 
therefore the persons opposed to us, 
precisely on their own ground. Allow- 
ing the utter impossibility of succeed- 
ing to the extent we anticipate, we only 
ask if there be any impropriety in 
making the experiment whether some* 
thing can be done. But if an experi- 
ment be made at all, we ask what is 
so calculated to give it energy and effi- 
ciency as the enthusiastic idea of con- 
verting the whole world to the faith and 
hope of the gospel ? Our object, you 
say, is too extensive to be ever realized. 
True, but this very consideration adds 
to our qualifications, even for a par- 
tial experiment, for it usually happens 
that he finds something great who 
seeks too much, and it is always wise to 
propose an attainment beyond our 
abilities, to animate us in the pursuit 
of what is attainable. Indeed, we may 
very solidly doubt whether the idea of 
a partial and limited success would 
animate the minds of men to attempt 
the hundreth part of what is practi- 
cable, on their own principles, and 
whether it be not the little word, all, 
which contains the whole element of 
excitement. For my own wart on ana- 



102 VINDICATION OF THE 

lysing my feelings, I think I distinctly 
perceive, that the very suggestion of a 
doubt whether to tlie God of Salvation 
" Every knee shall bow, and every 
tongue shall swear," sat once chills my 
ardor, and almost' extinguishes the de- 
sire of attempting any thing in behalf 
of the miserable heathen, ¥011 may 
call this exceedingly unreasonable and 
unphilosophieal % %&i\& you may be very 
right: hut such is human nature, and 
let him who censures it make it better 
if he can. In all pursuits, in all de- 
partments, to do much we must aim at 
more. 

But we proceed to try the question 
by another touchstone — the incidental 
good to society which we may expect, 
will reward our efforts even on the as- 
sumption that the main object in view is 
entirely unattainable* Surely that man 
must possess s& remarkable prudery of 
judgment who is offended at a de- 
lusion which, while acknowledged 
harsnless, can be proved productive of 
the most solid and lasting benefits. 

Will it not, for instance, look with a 
kindly eye on science ? "We put this 
question, not so much front an opinion 
of its real importance, as from a belief 
that a large proportion of those who 
entertain the prejudice we are oppos- 
ing, affect a prodigious interest in the 
advancement of knowledge. With all 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE 1GR, 103 

respect for Christianity and its pro* 
fessors t they are decidedly of opinion, 
that it would be infinitely wiser, if in- 
stead of sending: to the east and to the 
west* a multitude of half crazed de- 
votees, with their Bibles and Psalm 
Books, to insult all other religions be- 
side their own, we would commission 
half the number of graduated literati 
to go and measure an arc of the meri- 
dian, collect stones, plants and cockle- 
shells, or find out the direction of the 
Niger. Beside the splendid discoveries 
which would ensue on these expen- 
ditures, there would be this eminent 
advantage, that the liberal patrons 
could be reimbursed by the sale of their 
servants 9 quartos, on their happy re- 
turn to academic bowers ! I¥ow, per- 
haps, it will not be amiss to meet such 
thinkers on their own principles, and 
inform them, that though we are too 
fanatical to throw away our money 
for the gratification of literary vanity, 
when the glory of God, and the salva- 
tion of eight hundred millions of our 
brethren are at stake, yet it is quite 
possible that we shall prove invalua- 
ble contributors to their own darling 
science. We might refer them to what 
has been already done t to the fact that 
Greenland, Iceland, Abyssinia, the 
South Sea Islands, and China, have 
all been explored by enthusiasts ? that 



104 VINDICATION OF THE 

the most approved dictionary of the 
language of two hundred millions is 
the work of a Missionary, and that 
every day they are adding new stores 
to political, physical and moral sci- 
ence. ILet it not he objected that these 
benefits are only incidental, and valu- 
ed by their authors in subservience to 
something else. The same will apply 
to nine-tenths of useful discoveries. 
The ancients mapped the starry con- 
cave, not from any love of astronomy ; 
but to guide their navigation. The 
art of printing was invented by a ven- 
der of manuscripts, who aimed at des- 
patch. Nov let it be urged, that they 
who go forth are not qualified to make 
learned research. True, they are not 
botanists or mineralogists, but they 
are, in general, acute and faithful 
observers ; or if this will not content, 
they can send the tidings that their 
painful efforts have molified the sav- 
age heart, and peopled the wilderness 
with meek and gentle followers of the 
L<amb, and then your sages may ven- 
ture on a peregrination themselves : 
But not to dwell oik this point, I only 
suggest the inquiry what will be the 
effects in reference merely to science, 
in the space of fifty years if this mania 
of preaching the gospel to " every kin- 
dred and tongue, and people, and na- 
tion," continues and makes progress t 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AfcE. 105 

Not a language or dialect, to a gram- 
matical digest of which the student 
cannot turn in his library, not a dark 
corner of the earth but shall be statis- 
tically described ; and it is sometimes 
my belief, that if ever the learned 
world enjoy the unspeakable felicity 
of reading an account of the North 
Pole, they will owe it to some humble 
Moravian or Baptist, whose warm 
heart enabled him ti^ brave its eternal 
snows in the hope of carrying the light 
of life to some wretched outcast, who 
perchance, might be found shivering 
amid its desolations ! 

Were we disposed to spend our time 
in trifling, we would meet the mercan- 
tile objector with the same kind of ar- 
gument. We would detail with no 
little plausibility the probable benefits 
of the excitement to commerce. We 
would suggest that it may open new 
markets, make acquainted with the 
products of the remotest climes, and in 
a thousand ways (if only allowed a free 
course) influence your prices-current. 

But we address a nobler class of 
thinkers, those who delight to contem- 
plate things in their moral aspects and 
tendencies, and the general argument 
we address to such, is the efficacy of the 
spirit we are advocating, in calling 
forth all the charities and kindnesses 
of the human bosom. I imagine we 



106 VINDICATION OF THE 

are on perfectly tenable ground when 
we assert that its effects in this respect 
have already been most astonishing, 
that it has done more to subdue the 
selfish feelings of our nature than all 
the expedients united -which have ever 
been employed. Blessed be Ood for a 
fanaticism which has produced such 
an exhibition of diffusive benevolence 
and disinterested compassion in a 
world, whence the observer of the past 
might have been almost tempted to 
conclude these guests had long since 
winged their flight to their native skies* 
{Look at the innumerable institutions 
which, within fifteen years, have 
sprung up for purposes purely philan- 
thropic, including all ages, sexes, and 
degrees, each striving for pre-eminence 
in its labours of holy love ; and let any 
reasoning man calculate, if he can 
what must be tike effect of the constant 
appeals which, through them, are 
made to human sensibility. Mow ma- 
ny fountains of charity have been 
opened ! Sow many thousands have 
been taught to feel, who otherwise, 
perhaps, would have never known 
they were capable of a generous emo- 
tion! They have made the sordid 
wretch, whose thoughts never rose 
above the little provision to be made 
for the daily wants of wife and family, 
a sublime contemplative philosopher % 



RELIGIOU8 SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 107 

who, iii schemes for the happiness of 
his fellows, in pleasing conjectures as 
to the good of which his hard earned 
contributions to the treasury of the 
Lord will be found productive at the 
great day, in meditations on milieniat 
blessedness, and a world redeemed 
from wo, learns to till \^ the languid 
pauses between his toils with finer joys 
than the treasures of a Crossus would 
purchase their possessor. Mut this is 
not the whole truth. They have not 
only given the poor man sentiments 
and joys unknown before, but in con- 
nection with these, a consciousness of 
dignity, a self-respect, which though not 
usually ranked among the virtues, I 
am inclined to consider the foundation 
of all. That this is their natural in- 
fluence sufficiently appears from ad- 
verting to the great object they have in 
view. It is the extention of immortal 
blessings to those who are sitting in the 
valley of the shadow of death ; an ob- 
ject as superior to those usually called 
great, as the blaze of the meridian sun 
to the glimmering of a glow-worm. 
Now the mere idea of such an under- 
taking fills the mind. "We feel a certain 
pride in being able to conceive of it. 
Wo man has ever entertained a great 
idea without a sentiment of participa- 
tion in its greatness. We must not for- 
get also that the feeling of elevation 



108 VINDICATION OF THE 

proceeding from the consciousness of 
being benefactors, and to crown all, 
tbe sacred and blissful assurance, tbat 
in sending tbe glad tidings of great joy 
to a despairing world, we are further- 
ing the designs of the Almighty, and 
are in common with his Son and Spirit 
and angels round his throne, his allies 
in a cause most interesting to his infin- 
ite mind! Oh, how base, how worse 
than naught, in comparison, are all 
the schemes of individual or national 
aggrandizement which have attracted 
the admiration of the giddy multitude ! 
^This, my brethren, is the peculiar glo- 
ry of the various institutions which 
have originated in the excitement of 
our day, that they furnish to those 
classes of society, who from their situa- 
tion, are most exposed to an abject and 
degraded spirit, precisely what they 
need, a principle of elevation. The poor 
man no more sinks beneath the sense 
of utter insignificance* He finds that 
he is good for something, for he as well 
as others is called to drink in the hal- 
lowed inspiration of love to Ood and 
the souls of men. laterally may it be 
said of this wonderous project, " It has 
raised the poor from the dust, and lift- 
ed the needy from the dunghill, it has 
set him with princes, even the princes 
of the people." Nor is this all* By 
bringing him on a level with those 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 109 

placed far above him in the scale of 
worldly distinction, and making him 
coadjutor in counsel and action, it con- 
firms his moral principles, and cher- 
ishes an emulation, a thirst for excel- 
lence, which shall be unspeakably be- 
neficial to his habits. Show me a man 
who respects himself and you show 
me a man who cannot be a villain. 

There is another interesting class of 
society on the formation of whose cha- 
racter we may presume that the ope- 
rations of Christian benevolence will 
exert no inconsiderable influence : I 
mean the young and rising spirits who 
shall form the glory or disgrace of the 
succeeding age. May we not consider 
its various institutions as so many 
schools of virtue, where the best and 
most salutary habits are planted and 
confirmed ? Mere they learn some- 
thing very different from that sickly, 
whining sensibility, which can honour 
misery with a tear, but cannot stretch 
a finger for its relief. Here is a chari- 
ty which never evaporates in fruitless 
lamentations or idle wishes ; but an ac* 
five practical beneficence, a spirit of 
doing good, of wiping the tear from the 
mourner's eye, and answering every 
well-founded claim of want without 
complaining of weariness or toil. It 
is on this account we attach immeasu- 
rable importance to those numerous 



110 VINDICATION OF THE 

juvenile associations which the spirit 
of the age has originated in various 
sections of our country, and pray to 
God that they niay soon include every 
child in our land ; not so much because 
of the amount of aid they contribute 
to more imposing institutions or the 
general fund of christian charity, as 
their prodigious moral reaction on those 
who compose them. Paint in imagi- 
nation, brethren, thirty or forty of 
these interesting little beings at one of 
their regular meetings, each holding 
in his hand the little mite with which 
parental kindness has rewarded a 
month's good behaviour! First yon 
see them hearkening in mute and 
amazed attention to some interesting, 
but alas, too well authenticated story 
of human wo. Mark the tear stand- 
ing in their eye, then stealing down 
their cheek, while they hear of Jug- 
gernaut's bloody car, or Ganges 9 pu- 
trid tide, or some wretched mother, 
urged hy a horrid frenzy, making her 
children doubly orphans hy immola- 
ting herself on their father's funeral 
pile ! After this you see them listening 
to the last account of some faithful ser- 
vant of Christ, employed in softening 
the horrors which have left such an im- 
pression in their young bosoms* How 
their hearts leap with joy at finding 
there are wise and holy men who are 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF TUB AGE. Ill 

thus employed! With what emotion 
do they hear the calls of these wise and 
holy men for aid, — the information that 
even children can help them; — that 
every dollar and every cent would go 
far to save some poor soul from death ! 
Thus taught to feel they are next 
taught to act. They come forward 
and present their little pittance ; it is 
indeed but a pittance % yet in many 
cases, we have reason to believe, like 
the widow's mite, possessing more va- 
lue, in the eyes of the IMvinity, than 
the most splendid and expensive bene- 
factions, too often the expedient of dis- 
tempered vanity to procure a posthu- 
mous renown. 

It may, however, be objected, that 
hitherto no great elfects of the kind we 
have been detailing have been found 
to follow. We answer, the experiment 
must have time. The excitement is, as 
yet, too partial and limited to make a 
perceptible impression on the mass of 
our juvenile population. It must be ex* 
tended, it must become universal, every 
hamlet must receive the sacred infec- 
tion, and then, if you perceive not the 
proofs of its influence in the eradica- 
tion of selfishness, and the triumph of 
amiable and benevolent affections, we 
will acknowledge that we have griev- 
ously erred in our ideas of human na- 
ture. ilJIL^.:2i 5 ii: 



112 VINDICATION OF THE 

But our argument is too strong to 
need the aid of anticipation^ and we 
are perfectly content, that the tree 
be tried by its present fruits* We cite, 
in proof of what it has already done, 
one simple and unadorned, but unde- 
niable fact, the decay of that foul and 
pestilential spirit of sect which has so 
long disgraced the church of •Fesus 
Christ. United together in one grand 
enterprise against the common enemy, 
Christians have hushed their domestic 
tumults, have emerged from their re- 
spective camps, and come in kindly 
contact, wondering how much of their 
Master's image they find in those who 
once were the objects of their fiercest 
hate. The truth has been found out 
at last, (the wonder is, it was not found 
out long before,) that I may differ from 
my neighbour and neither of us be pos- 
sessed with a devil, and that there is 
nothing to prevent us from uniting our 
hearts and prayers and efforts in the 
best of causes. 

This happy revolution in feeling has 
a two-fold connection with the great 
excitement of the day ; 1st, By combi- 
ning men together in the prosecution 
of a common purpose, it must naturally 
produce a mutual kindness of temper, 
especially when the purpose itself is 
purely benevolent. That man must be 
formed in nature's roughest mould, 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 113 

who can stand nncliarmed in the ma- 
gic circle of a Bible or Missionary So- 
ciety. Secondly, By withdrawing the 
regards of the christian public from 
mere speculation to schemes of active 
usefulness, it has deprived the kindler 
of sectarian feuds of the aliment by 
which he is supported. The grave 
Polemic who in days of yore, could 
have tilled the whole city of Zion with 
confusion, must now lay aside his pen. 
Bent on other objects, Christians will 
neither buy nor read him, and his 
stupendous tomes must lie on the book- 
sellers shelf or fare worse. Now, this is 
excessively discouraging, and hence it 
is that this notable and laborious race 
is rapidly dying away, and making 
room for mei\ 9 who, though somewhat 
inferior in the art of syllogizing, do 
more for Cfod and man, in one day^ 
than their predecessors, in a long and 
busy life. When the race is entirely 
extinct, sectarism is at an end; for I 
have such a charitable opinion of hu- 
man nature, with ail its foibles, as to 
believe that Christians would long 
since have ceased to disgrace them- 
selves with drawing daggers against 
each other, had it not been for a con- 
stant supply of those firebrands of 
the church, learned disputatious di- 
vines. 
But there is still another mode, to 

s 



114 VINDICATION OF THE 

which we beg leave to consider the sub- 
ject for a moment, in reference to the 
question of incidental benefit. May we 
not consider the enterprise, which ex- 
cites so universal an interest in Chris- 
tendom, not only as increasing the 
average amount of dignified and bene- 
volent feeling in the social mass, but 
as presenting to the aspiring few a thea* 
tre for the display of extraordinary and 
sublime heroism I as in a word, not only 
making all good but some great t The 
chief reason of the pleasure usually 
taken in reading accounts of extraor- 
dinary emergencies, is the expectation 
we entertain that they will be found to 
have called forth snen of correspond- 
ing characters. When asleep or at the 
distalf, Hercules himself is a mere ordi- 
nary personage; it is only when his 
arm is lifted to crush the hydra we 
mark the brawny muscle and " spirit 
speaking eye." Hence tl\e interest with 
which even the tender female can fol- 
low the warrior along his blood stain- 
ed track, "through disastrous chan- 
ces, moving accidents of flood and 
field." She loves not blood, but she 
associates with it the idea of high phy- 
sical or mental energy : She loves not 
disastrous chances, but she does love to 
see man, her child, walking forth in 
all the majesty of his being, though 
often surrounded with accompani- 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE, 115 

ments which make her weep and shud- 
der while she admires ! 

Wow my brethren, we readily allow 
that no sueh displays can be promised 
in the ease before us. Christianity has 
no such heroes, nor has the spirit we 
are advocating. It hates them, it de- 
nounces them and is determined not to 
rest till it has exterminated every me- 
morial of them from the earth, " chang- 
ing' the sword into the ploughshare, 
and the spear into the pruning-hook." 
But if by heroism you mean a combi- 
nation of all great mental qualities- 
patience under suffering — courage in 
the most appalling dangers — wisdom 
of counsel, and unshaken vigour of 
purpose — then it does promise you he- 
roes, and such a harvest of them as the 
world has never seen. It will show you 
men, who without any imaginable in- 
ducement, beside the resistless impulse 
of duty and divine compassion, have 
cheerfully given up every earthly pros- 
pect, torn themselves from friends — 
country — home ! without casting one 
lingering look behind, and have devo- 
ted themselves to penury, nakedness, 
perils by water, perils by land, perils 
by the savage cruelty of those they seek 
to save — that at the great day they may 
appear before their Master's bar, with 
some happy monuments of his grace, 
who shall join in the eternal jubilee of 



116 VINDICATION OT THE 

the Redeemed from among men ! It is 
an easy thing, under the influence of a 
heat of blood, excited by a score of fa- 
vourable circumstances, to rush into 
the midst of blood and carnage, and 
the shrieks of the dying. But this is 
very different from that deep habitual 
intensity of soul required in an enter- 
prise which has nothing in it to gratify 
a single disorderly passion of the hu- 
man heart. It is not exceeding difficult 
to make up an Alexander or a Caesar 
from very ordinary materials ; but you 
must steal from yonder heaven its ethe- 
real fire to animate a Tanderkemp 
and a S warts! 

I may, perhaps, be thought, by many 
of my hearers, too profuse in my admi- 
ration for the Missionary character. 
I know the comparatively little esteem 
generally awarded, even by Christians 
to those good men who go forth to 
preach the Oospel in foreign lands ; 
and the significant shrug we must ex- 
pect to encounter when we propose 
them as models of the true moral sub" 
lime* But this only proves the power 
of prejudice and custom to blind the 
eyes of the understanding. The sober 
truth is, the world has so long been 
habituated to false appearances, that 
it is not prepared to appreciate the 
truth. A debauched taste prevails in 
morals, analogous to that sometimes 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. J 17 

prevalent in literature, in consequence 
of which, modest simplicity is mistak- 
en for tameness ; noise and bluster shall 
pass current for all that is noble and 
great. No w 9 if ever a renovation takes 
place, it must be effected in like man- 
ner with a reform in the latter, by 
multiplying specimens of genuine ex- 
cellence, and thus bringing back the 
public to the charms of nature and 
truth. L<et us cherish, therefore, that 
godlike spirit which has arisen in our 
day, and which is inspiring our youth 
with the ambition of performing deeds 
of noble daring, on a hitherto untrod- 
den field. Who can tell what may be 
its blessed effects on the moral percep- 
tions of the age I Shall we not cherish 
the exhilerating idea, that, perhaps, it 
will fly from heart to heart, until its 
hallowed influence shall extend from 
the meanest cottage to the loftiest 
throne — and kings and princes fired 
with the noble flame, shall cease to be 
dazzled with a false splendour, and to 
write their claims, to the admiration 
of posterity, in the blood and tears of 
suffering humanity. Multiply ye bands 
of holy worthies — multiply, go on in 
the name of the Lord. ¥om may for a 
time, be deprived of your well earned 
fame, though this will not affect yon, 
whose praise is not of men but of Ood ; 
yet a period shall arrive when men 



118 VINDICATION OF THE 

shall praise yon, and when your bright 
example shall recover a world from 
the miserable weakness of honouring 
with an exclusive admiration, those 
who are glorious only in mischief ! 

Thus we have adduced a variety of 
considerations calculated to satisfy our 
minds when we look at the subject 
through the darkest medium. Acqui- 
esce in the gloomy statement of your 
opposers, adopt the heart-rending con- 
viction that, so far as the main object 
is concerned, all your prayers, and all 
your tears, and all your sacrifices will 
terminate in the sickness of disap- 
pointed hope. Still, Christian philan- 
thropists, believe that you are engaged 
in a good work, which in some mode 
or another will recompense your toil. 

II. But I should be unfaithful to the 
cause for which I have undertaken this 
evening to plead, were I to neglect put- 
ting you distinctly in mind, that the 
assumption is perfectly gratuitous, and 
that we have been pleased to yield it 
merely from a disposition to accommo- 
date ourselves to certain prejudices. 
The idea of the absolute impractica- 
bility is false, it flies directly in the face 
of the promises of the faithful Ood, has 
no foundation but in the sloth and in- 
sensibility of men who can sleep at ease 
amid the ruins of a fallen world. 

It is not my design to intrude upon 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 119 

you a full and laboured demonstration 
on this interesting topic, but shall eon- 
tent myself with offering a few sugges- 
tions, which though far from including 
the merits of the case, will be sufficient 
to meet the sneers and surmises of un- 
reasonable men. 

We tell them in the first place, that 
the experiment never has been made. We 
mean that, until the present time, there 
never was a combined and well orga- 
nized system of means and efforts for 
conferring benefits on the heathen* 
Selfishness, pure unadulterated selfish- 
ness, black as it came from hell, has 
hitherto been the god of the most civ- 
ilized and Christian nations. This 
is a plain and simple fact, which we 
venture to affirm no one in the least 
acquainted with history can deny or 
dilute. That there have been good 
men in every age, who proved them- 
selves exempt from the general charge, 
God forbid that we should doubt ; but 
they were as sheep among wolves, as a 
handful of corn on the tops of the 
mountains. Often, we may well sup- 
pose, would they retire to weep over 
the sorrows of apostate and benighted 
man. Often, when reading the predic- 
tions of the seraphic Isaiah, that " the 
glory of the I^ord should be revealed, 
and all flesh should see it together," 
and stretching their mental vision over 



120 TINDICATION OF THE 

tiie multitudes, numerous as the sand 
of the sea, living without hope, and 
dying in despair, would they prostrate 
themselves in the dust ; and cry " How 
long, © !<ord, how long?" But they 
could go no farther, nor, indeed, were 
they disposed ; for it would appear that 
the saints of former generations, u t*t- 
versally adopted ihie idea, that when 
the millenial glory dawned upon the 
earth, Crod would take tlie work 
exclusively into his own hands, and 
literally accomplish the prediction, 
"- that nations shall he born in a day." 
The objector, therefore, can employ no 
argument in opposition to us ; from the 
failure of past attempts, which pro- 
mised as fair. We are entering on a 
Held of enterprise entirely new, and 
though tUe way be not very plain be- 
fore us, though there be mountains to 
scale — deserts to penetrate — Hoods to 
pass — he cannot discourage us by point- 
ing to the mouldering bones of former 
adventurers, who fell victims to their 
temerity. How many experiments 
have come to a successful result, which, 
it was thought, little worse than mad- 
ness to comBiience — and, perhaps, in 
reference to the case before us, the pe- 
riod may not be far distant, when the 
only wonder shall be, that a plan so 
simple, so rational, and so admirably 
adapted to gain its end, as that which 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 121 

is in operation, was not thought of 

ages before. 

But, I observe, that reasoning from 
very obvious analogies, we may con- 
elude, that a vigorous and wisely con* 
ducted experiment will be crowned with 
success. 

It is an undeniable fact, that some 
nations have been civilized, and made 
partakers of the light and blessings of 
the Gospel 5 nay, where is the people, 
who in looking back through the long 
vista of their history, do not tlnd it to 
terminate in a darkness as palpable as 
that which broods, at the present mo- 
ment over the most barbarous regions I 
¥¥V, whence are we sprung? ILook 
back thou child of science and refine- 
ment, and fix thine eye on yonder 
squalid savage, quailing, amid his 
companions, from that cursed goblet 
which contains the heart's blood of a 
brother, and call that savage father. 
If such prodigious revolutions have 
heei^ accomplished, may they not be 
accomplished again ? "We enter, there- 
fore, into the contest, with peculiar 
advantages s Our enemies have long 
since lost the charm of invincibility: 
They have f^een overcome in detail, as is 
proved l^j innumerable cheering facts, 
and is not this sufficient encouragement 
for us to give them battle on a more ex- 
tended scale, espe<pis»!ly when we con- 



122 VINDICATION OP THE 

sider the increase of our resources and 
our skill ? — which leads me to observe. 
That Christians in their project of 
universal amelioration, have reason 
to entertain futl confidence in the fitness 
of their instrument. This reflection is 
of no small moment, as it directly 
meets the charge we are considering. 
The most prominent feature of enthusi- 
asm is generally considered to be a 
great heat and violence of temper, 
which its subject mistakes for an im- 
mediate and extraordinary inspira- 
tion, by which he is led to anticipate 
certain events, or the accomplishment 
of certain purposes, without regard to 
the necessary and adequate means* 
But how far is this from the spirit of 
our day ! JLook at the mode in which 
Christians are prosecuting their un- 
dertaking, the complicated machine- 
ry, the wheels within wheels, each of 
which, like that in Ezekiel's vision, 
goes backwards, forwards, sidewise ; 
and detect, if you can, a solitary in- 
stance in which the charge of presump- 
tion can be substantiated. But you say, 
that notwithstanding all the seeming 
variety of the means and instruments 
employed, they are, in fact, reducible 
to one, tike printed and preached Gospel. 
We grant it — we allow that the grand 
engine, in the use of which they place 
their confidence, is this blessed book, 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. 

which tells man what he is, and what 
he is destined for hereafter, and what 
he must do to secure the favour of an 
offended Divinity. The question press- 
es home, if this confidence be not well 
grounded, if they have not reason to 
believe that this is the engine, and only 
one which gives a promise of success ! 
L«et me inform those who are dispos- 
ed to grapple with them on this topic, 
that they meet an enemy strongly en- 
trenched and not easily dislodged. 
They will plead that they have as good 
a right to rely on the efficacy of the 
Bible, as the warrior on the trusty 
blade he has tried in innumerable 
dangers — that observation, experience, 
facts countless as the stars of a winter's 
sky, demonstrate a hidden virtue in 
this little book, which nothing can re- 
sist. They call vq^ to your attention 
that illustrious day, when in the 
twinkling of an eye, three thousand 
fell down before its overpowering ma- 
jesty, and from furious persecuting en- 
emies of Jesus of Nazareth, became his 
humble and affectionate followers. 
They put you in mind of its subse- 
quent triumphs in all civilized, and 
many barbarous lands, until at length 
it ascended upon the ruins of thirty 
thousand gods, and took its seat with 
Caesar upon the throne of the world : 
nor did it cease to reign and put ene- 



124 VINDICATION OF THE 

mies tinder its feet, until in a fatal 
hour, they to whom it was entrusted 
forgot their duty ; and quietly laid 
down beneath tlie laurels it liad plant- 
ed ! They will then turn inward to 
themselves. They will tell you, that 
whereas " onee they were blind, now 
they see," onee they were " haters of 
God and haters of one another 5" now 
they "love the JLord their God with all 
their hearts, and their neighbours as 
themselves ;" once the miseries of the 
world could not raise a sigh .• now 
they can weep over the darkness of a 
single soul : and all this revolution, 
they tell you, is the Gospel's! But if 
you distrust their testimony, they will 
ask you to look around. Yonder is a 
man, who a few years ago, was a 
wretch, on whom the vices so thickly 
clustered, whose soul was so lost in 
baseness, that his very presence was 
contamination. Now he is the noble 
hearted friend of God and man, and 
one of the ornaments of the circle in 
which he moves ! There is a reform- 
ed drunkard! There a female, who 
arrested by a secret aran, in the midst 
of dissipation and heart-benumbing 
gaities, bade them all an eternal fare- 
well, and now you see her in the dis- 
charge of a daily office of mercy she 
has prescribed to herself, entering the 
mansions of the poor to pour into some 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 125 

lacerated heart the oil of joy and glad- 
ness. 

These are facts of every day occur- 
rence, and which require no comment. 
It is of no importance, in the present 
discussion, to inquire whence this vir- 
tue of the gospel is derived. The Chris- 
tian, indeed, will reply, from the ac- 
companying influence of the Spirit of 
©od.* But he does not ask you to join 
in the same confession. Nay, in refus- 
ing it, you strengthen instead of weak- 
ening his argument; for in allowing 
a native and intrinsic efficacy to his 
instrument, you give it an additional 
fitness for the mighty work in which 
he is employing it. 

"We shall be the more confirmed in 
the justice of the expectations enter- 
tained, if we consider that the experi- 
ment has made some actual progress and 
that the result is calculated to cherish 
the most sanguine hopes. We confess 
that little has been achieved, in com- 
parison with what remains. But we 
have done enough to prove that our 
object is attainable, and therefore, this 

* If it were necessary to strengthen the argument by 
additional considerations, we might advert to those extra- 
ordinary and glorious phenomena, usually called " Revi- 
vals of religion" But the bearing- of these wonderful 
exhibitions of Divine grace, on the Millenial glory, is itself 
a large field of investigation. 



126 VINDICATION OF THE 

little is much. I refer you particularly 
to the late intelligence from the islands 
of the South Sea, that in many of thein 
Christianity and the civilized arts have 
been fully established, insomuch that 
scarce a vestige of idolatry and sav- 
age life is to be seen. IVow, this is most 
highly encouraging. Let it be remem- 
bered, that every province we gain 
from the god of this world, increases 
our power and his weakness ; and as 
his dominion is not infinite, all we 
have to do is, to go on from conquest 
to conquest until we find ourselves 
standing before the last strong-hold, 
and ready to raise the shout of " rtc- 
tory" over its prostrate battlements. 

Lastly, The promise of Almighty God 
has secured the accomplishment of our 
hopes. Here, brethren, we take more 
elevated ground. Leaving our sober 
rationalist to his creeping surmises and 
conjectures, we ascend the mount of 
faith, thence to take a view of the New 
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven 
to men, and " all the kingdoms of this 
world, becoming the kingdoms of our 
Lord and his Christ/' Faith, however, 
you will remember, is not contrary to 
reason, but only reason in the noblest 
exercise. If the Oreat Being, whom 
we worship, has assured us, that from 
Eternity the world was given to his 
Son — that in the fulness of time. He 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OP THE AGE. 127 

" shall receive the heathen as his in- 
heritance, and the uttermost parts of 
the earth as his possession; 99 that the 
knowledge of his glory shall extend to 
"earth's remotest bounds and ocean's 
wildest shore, 99 in the name of the Lord, 
let us say " Amen ! 99 And such is the 
assurance he has given us. It was 
given in that first promise which was 
announced to our first progenitor, 
trembling at the woes which his apos- 
tacy had produced, " The seed of the 
woman shall bruise the serpent's 
head. 99 It was given to believing 
Abraham, who was enabled by it to 
look forward to a day, when, " in his 
seed, all the families of the earth should 
be blessed. 99 It was given with grow- 
ing evidence to succeeding saints, un- 
der the Old Testament economy, who 
lived and died in its faith — and how 
often, and with what clearness, it is 
unfolded in the New, I need not now 
detail. As to the manner of its accom- 
plishment, it is sufficient to know that 
" Ood will pour out his spirit on all 
flesh, 99 but yet in connectien with the 
agency and efforts of his people. As to 
the period, we need not perplex you 
with mysterious commentaries oik pas- 
sages from Scripture, almost as myste- 
rious, for we have a plain maxim on 
the subject which we dare to propose 
as perfectly satisfactory. The time for 



128 VINDICATION OF THE 

God's fulfilling his promise to the 
church, is the time when she is pre- 
pared to receive its fulfilment, when 
with one heart and one soul, her mem- 
bers discharge their part of the im piled 
contract between them and their pro- 
miser. J>o you ask them when is the 
time ? I answer, now, now — when his 
people have awaked to a sense of their 
responsibility, are combining their en- 
ergies, are pressing round the throne 
of his grace to put him ii^ remem- 
brance, and are determined not to rest 
till Jerusalem be made a praise and 
glory in the earth. Had such a spirit 
prevailed in the Church, the premise 
would have heeisi fulfilled ages since, 
and we give more for this token, that 
the time, the set time is come, than for 
whole libraries of apocalyptic and 
chronological dissertations, filessed 
Master I Behold thy servants wait for 
thy salvation — come !Lord Jesus, come 
quickly. 

The inferences from the remarks that 
we have offered. are these, 

1st. That they who sneer at the en- 
thusiasm of Christians in the great 
cause in which they have enlisted, 
would be much more wisely and pro- 
fitably employed in asking their own 
hearts why they feel so little. 

Sdly. Instead if being drunk with 
new- wine, our misfortunes is, a coldness. 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. i£9 

an apathy, a heartlessness, compared 
with tbe pressing requirements of the 
case. 

3dly. The unspeakable felicity of 
having our lot cast in a day when such 
bright prospects are opening* oul the 
church and the world. 

Lastly, the criminality of continuing 
at ease in such a day, and in such a 
crisis. 

Christian brethren, let this last re- 
flection produce its due impression on 
your consciences. This earth must he 
Ailed with the glory of the JLord* God 
himself has purposed it, and he is not a 
man that he should lie, " nor the son of 
man that he should repent." But 
though his purpose be firm and un- 
changeable as the everlasting hills, yet 
in his inscrutable wisdom he has made 
its accomplishment depend upon his 
church, and you are a part of that 
highly privileged community to whom 
he is saying, "Awake, awake, put on 
thy strength, shake thyself from the 
dust, loose thyself from the bands of thy 
neck, O captive daughter of Zion." 
Though a small proportion of the 
mighty army which, under the banner 
of Jehovah Sabaoth, is going up 
against the high places of the enemy, 
yet to the extent of your abilities, you 
are as responsible as if you were the 
whole. Each has his part assigned, and 



130 VINDICATION OF THE 

woe to the soldier found sleeping on hi* 
post in such an emergency. How is 
it with you, my brethren? Are you 
awake ? Are you doing your duty to 
Ood, to his church and the world? — 
When I cast my eyes over this numer- 
ous assembly, and mark the many in- 
dications that I am addressing a people 
whom Ood has abundantly prospered 
in this world's goods, insomuch that if 
one of the poor savages for whom we 
plead were admitted for a moment in 
the midst of us, he would on his re- 
turn, in all probability inform his 
wondering countrymen that he had 
heewi in a place where all were kings 
and princesses, clothed in the garments 
of the gods ; I must conclude that it is 
not the doing of a little which will au- 
thorise you to answer this question in 
the affirmative. If I do not grossly err, 
Heaven is expecting much from you, 
my hearers, and is addressing you in 
language you cannot misunderstand, 
" Since it is so well with you, think of 
your brethren," think of the thousand 
million souls perishing for lack of know* 
ledge I 

We ask of you a proof of your fidelity, 
this evening, to the solemn trust reposed 
in you ; and our plea is in behalf of a 
society, which, besides its general 
el aims to your respect, as one of the in- 
numerable institutions which are the 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 131 

glory of our land, has some peculiarly 
its own. It is tlie oldest not only in our 
city but our country. It was organ- 
ised* at tlie very commencement of tliat 
excitement which in its progress bids 
fair to confer such lasting benefits on 
our race ; and is, therefore, a venerable 
memorial (God forbid that we suffer it 
to decay) of a period to which we can- 
not but look back with gratitude and 
joy. 

Its special object is to evangelize and 
civilize the heathen, especially the 
Aboriginals of our country. In prose- 
cuting this object, they have encoun- 
tered many difficulties, and have often 
heen called to hope against hope : But 
they have been enabled hitherto to per- 
severe, and their recompence is the 
delightful assurance that their labours 
of love have not heen in vain. At pre- 
sent, their operations are confined to 
the Tuscarora and Seneca nations on 
our frontiers. In the former, they have 
a respectable and flourishing church, 
which enjoys the ministrations of a 
young and faithful minister of Jesus 
Christ, who also labours as a teacher. 
Among the latter they have a catechist 
and schoolmaster. The whole number 
of the missionary family is seventeen. 
Within a few months their prospects of 

* In the year 1796. 



133 VINDICATION OP THE 

usefulness, in this hitherto most degra- 
ded tribe, have considerably brighten- 
ed, in consequence of which, they have 
been induced to extend their plans very 
considerably beyond their abilities. 
They are labouring under severe em- 
barrassments, and though they have 
disposed of nearly the last dollar of 
their disposable property, the pressure 
continues. Abstracting the considera- 
tion of their debt, they find, on exam- 
ining the list of their subscriptions, 
which is their sole dependence, that 
the annual dues fall far short of meet- 
ing the ordinary and current expenses 
of their Missions. It is then a most 
painful reflection, that though provi- 
dence is opening a door of usefulness, 
which never has been opened before, 
they are utterly unable to improve the 
golden opportunity. 

But it is not for them we plead, but 
for the wretched outcasts whom it is 
their ardent desire to save. Look at 
them, my brethren, look at the miseries 
of their condition I They are living 
without enjoyment, dying without 
hope, and day by day peopling the re- 
ceptacle of the lost. Good God! Is 
there a heart in this assembly, which 
does not throb at the agonizing reflec- 
tion, and would not give a thousand 
worlds to escape from the' conviction 
that it is the sober truth? Who does 



RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE ACE, 1S3 

not grasp at the hope, that something 
may be done for the relief of these poor 
degraded Heathen perishing at our 
doors, and who will refuse his part to 
put the New York Missionary Society 
in a situation which shall enable them 
to grant it f 






135 



DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES, 

FOR 

ALL OCCASIONS. 



HYMN 1. CM. Tune— Coleshill* 

1 PBAY-B is the soul's sincere desire 
Uttered or unexpress'd ; 
The motion of a hidden fire — 
That trembles in the breast. 

3 Pray'r is the burden of a sigh, 
The falling of a tear ; 
The upward glancing of an eye, 
When none but God is near. 

3 Pray'r is the simplest form of speech, 

That infant lips can try ; [reach 
Pray'r the sublimest strains that 
The majesty on high. 

4 Pray'r is the Christian's vital breath, 

The Christian's vital air, 
His watchword at the gate of death — 
He enters heav'n by pray'r. 

5 Pray'r is the contrite sinner's voice 

Returning from his ways, 
While angels in their songs rejoice, 
And cry " behold he prays." 

* The tunes are called by the names attached to them 
in a popular musical work, called the " Christian Lyre" 
from which they are taken. 



156 TOR A SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 

6 Oh thou by whom I come to God, 
The life, the Truth, the Way, 
The path of pray 9 r thyself has trod i 
" ILord teach me how to pray," 

For a Spirit of Grace and Supplication. 

Jtly soul would plead thine own word, 

Gods " When thou gayest seek ye my 
face / my heart replies Thy face Isord will 

1 seek." Ps. 37, v. 8. " JLet the words of 
my mouth, and the meditation of my heart 
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my 
Strength and my Redeemer." Ps. 19* 14. 

O great and glorious God ! how shall 
I render suitable thanksgiving and 
praises unto thee, for thy special con- 
descension and grace, in permitting me 
(who am but dust and ashes, and with- 
al a great and grievous sinner, and 
unworthy of the least of thy mercies,) 
to appear in thy presence, (who art 
surrounded with countless thousands 
of Holy Angels and the spirits of the 
just made perfect through the blood 
of Jesus, who continually praise and 
adore thy holy name,) for the purpose 
of presenting before thee all my wants 
and necessities, and, for what passes 
all understanding, the permission to 
call thee Father, in Christ Jesus and 
myself thy child. Tea, O Father, this 
is condescension and grace, the great- 
ness and preciousness of which, I can 



FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 137 

neither sufficiently magnify, nor even 
comprehend. Be pleased therefore, 
to look down upon me, in thy tender 
compassion, and enable me, by grace, 
to worship Thee in an acceptable 
manner. 

Thou knowest, O God, that of myself, 
I am incapable of doing any good, 
and especially of calling upon Thy 
holy name aright, inasmuch as I know 
not even what or how to ask of Thee, 
I pray thee therefore, to pour out upon 
me, a spirit of supplication and faith, 
and teach me how to pray, and what 
to pray for; yea, O God, grant that 
Jesus Christ, the Son of thy love, may 
make intercession for me in heaven, 
so that my prayers may be like an 
holy incense before thee, and that I 
may lift up mine hands and heart as 
the evening sacrifice. 

Grant, O Lord ! that I may not ven- 
ture to come into converse with thee, 
until my heart is suitably prepared, by 
contemplating my manifold sins and 
transgressions, and necessities, as also 
thy supreme majesty, grace and com- 
passion, that my heart may be hum- 
bled and my hope and confidence in 
thee may be strengthened. 

Thou knowest also, O Lord, how 
manifold and fierce are the tempta- 
tions with which I have to contend in 
prayer, that I am of impure lips, that 



138 FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 

am slow of speech, that my heart is 
changeable, that my mind is back- 
ward, and how soon my thoughts are 
inclined to wander, even when I most 
sincerely desire to hold communion 
with thee. Come then to my aid in 
my weakness, open thou my mouth, 
unloose my tongue, purify my lips and 
preserve my thoughts from distraction, 
so that I may worship thee with true 
devotion of heart. And as satan is al- 
ways at my side, to lead me astray; 
therefore rebuke him, so that he may 
not entangle me, and grant me grace 
and enable me to gather in all my 
thoughts and desires from earth, and 
all sublunary objects, and lift them up 
to heaven, and place them upon things 
divine. — And are my wants so many, so 
great, and such a burden, that I can- 
not express them before thee ; O drod ! 
make thy strength perfect m my weak- 
ness, stir up my heart by thy Holy Spi- 
rit, and cause it to send forth unto thee 
groanings which cannot be uttered, 
and penetrate thy paternal heart, and 
cause thee to send me answers of peace ; 
and is my heart at any time averse to 
prayer, or drowsy, O ILord, influence it 
with the rays of grace divine, and the 
influences of thy Holy Spirit, so that I 
may call upon Thee, as a Spirit, in spi- 
rit and in truth. 
Enlighten, O Lord, the eyes of my un- 



FOR A SPIRIT OF GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 139 

derstanding, fit at I may desire nothing 
of Thee, but what is consistent with 
thy will, promotive of thine honour 
and glory, and advanciveof mine own 
salvation. Incline my heart especial- 
ly, to plead with Thee for spiritual 
benefits, for the forgiveness of my sins, 
the renewing of the spirit of my mind ; 
for a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, 
Thy well beloved Son ; for a filial fear, 
a cordial love, true faith and a lively 
hope; for unwavering patience, and 
eternal life ; and may I never cease, in 
my importunate cries and supplica- 
tions, until I have become a participa- 
tor, of those blessings, and enjoy the 
assurance of thy Spirit, that Thou art 
mine and I ant thine. And enable me, 
O Lord, by a lively faith and unwaver- 
ing confidence, to anticipate at Thy 
hand, all things which I ask of Thee 
consistent with Thy will $ and should- 
est Thou withhold Thine help, O pre- 
serve me from impatience and fretful* 
ness, so that I may not be disposed to 
prescribe either time or manner of an- 
swering my prayers unto Thee but be 
ever ready to subject my will unto 
thine, and thus with persevering sup- 
plication and prayer continue to wait 
upon Thee. 

That like holy Jacob, I may wrestle 
with Thee, until Thou blessest me, and 
grantest me a hearing to the salvation 



140 FOR A SPIRIT OP GRACE AND SUPPLICATION. 

of my soul. Convince me, O Father, 
that the more steadfast and perseve- 
ring I am, even so much greater and 
more glorious will he the displays of 
thy grace, and that the withholding of 
thine aid, for a season, will he abun- 
dantly supplied by Thy love and mer- 
cy. O, let me, therefore, always find 
grace in Thy sight, and hearken unto 
the sighs and petitions of Thine own 
child* for the alone sake, of Thy beloved 
Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 



HYMN. 2 C. M. Tune— Mear. 

1 GOD of my life, my morning song, 

To thee I cheerful raise ; 
Thy acts of love 'tis good to sing, 
And pleasant 'tis to praise. 

2 Preserved by thy almighty arm, 

I passed the shades of night, 
Serene and safe from ev'ry harm, 
To see the morning light. 

3 While numbers spent the night in 

sighs, 
And restless pains and woes, 
In gentle sleep, I closed mine eyes, 
And rose from sweet repose. 

4 When sleep, death's image, o'er me 

spread, 
And I unconscious lay, 
Thy watchful care was round my bed, 
To guard my feeble clay. 



INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 141 

5 O let the same almighty care, 

Through all this day attend; 
From ev'ry danger, ev'ry snare, 
My heedless steps attend. 

6 Smile on the minutes as they roll, 

And guide my future days ; 
And let thy goodness fill my soul, 
With gratitude and praise. 



Instructions how to begin the day with 

God. 

HYMN 3. C. M. Tune— Walzel. 

1 COME Holy Spirit heavenly Dove, 

With all thy quick'ning powers, 
Kindle a flame of sacred love 
In these cold hearts of ours. 

2 Look how we grovel here below. 

Fond of these trifling toys ; 
Our souls can neither fly nor go, 
To reach eternal joys. 

3 In vain we tune our formal songs, 

In vain we strive to rise % 
Hosannas languish on our tongues, 
And our devotion dies. 

4 Dear Lord and shall we ever live 

At this poor Aym^ rate. 
Our love so cold so faint to thee, 
And thine to us so great. 



142 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 

5 Come Holy Spirit Heavenly Dove, 
With all tliy quick'ning powers, 
Come shed abroad a Saviour's love. 
And that shall kindle ours. 

" I laid me down, and slept / I awaked? 
for the JLord sustained me." I*s. 3. v. 5. 
" JLord lift thou up the light of thy coun- 
tenance upon us." (ofls soon as the child 
of Crod wakes up from sleep in the morn' 
ins;, he should raise his heart to heaven* 
in this, or a similar short prayer, and thus 
excite his soul to a devotional frame, for 
waiting upon the JLord.) 

I thank Thee, O Heavenly Father, 
that Thou hast watehed over and pro- 
tected me, during the past night, from 
all evil and danger, and hast permitted 
uie, in the enjoyment of my usual 
health and strength, to behold the light 
of this morning; and I would pray 
Thee to have me in Thy holy care and 
keeping, and under the guidance of 
thy Holy Spirit during this day. And 
as thou hast awakened my body, from 
natural sleep, O be pleased also to 
awaken my soul from the sleep of sin, 
and all spiritual drowsiness and grant 
me, with the commencement of this 
day, renewed measures of grace and 
strength, that I may spend it, and all 
the remainder of my life, under Thy 
fatherly protection, and the govern- 






INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 145 

men! of Thy Spirit, in love, obedience, 
and in the fear of God, that I may 
carefully guard against all sin and 
sinful occasions, so that when the last 
trumpet shall sound, and awake up my 
sleeping dust, front the slumbers of the 
grave, I may arise with joy unspeaka- 
ble, to life everlasting in Christ Jesus 
my Redeemer. Amen. 

•£ morning prayer for a family. 

06 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing, 
for God is my defence, and the God of my 
mercy." Ps. 59, 17. " O God, thou art 
my God ; early will I seek thee / my soul 
thirsteth for thee." Ps. 63, I. 

O almighty, everlasting God, and 
merciful Father in Christ Jesus! we 
should render Thee most humble 
thanksgiving, honour and praise, for 
all Thy unspeakable benefits, but espe- 
cially, for the sweet and refreshing re- 
pose which we have enjoyed at thy 
hand during the past night, and for 
permitting us under circumstances of 
so much mercy to behold the light of 
this morning. We acknowledge, with 
the profoundest humility, that we are 
entirely unworthy of these and all 
other benefits, inasmuch as we are not 
only sinners by nature, in which we 
are conceived and born, but we have 
also committed innumerable actual 



144 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 

sins, and transgressions, from day to 
day. We beseech Thee therefore, O 
Father of Mercies, for the sake of our 
substitute and surety Jesus Christ, to 
forgive us all our sins, and grant us an 
assurance of a free pardon, by thy 
word and the testimony of Thy Holy 
Spirit. Be pleased also to preserve us 
through this day, and through all the 
days of our sojourning here on. this 
thy foot-stool, from all sins and trans- 
gressions, so that we may not offend 
Thee anew, and excite Thy wrath 
and displeasure to our eternal dam- 
nation. 

May Thy fear be continually before 
our eyes : be pleased to increase and 
strengthen our faith, render our hope 
more firm, and influence our hearts 
with a pure and holy love, to Thee, to 
Thy holy commandments, to our neigh- 
bours, and to all good works t create 
within us a sincere hatred to all that 
is sinful in Thy sight, as also a godly 
sorrow for all past sins, together with 
a firm resolution to live in all newness 
of life and holy obedience. 

And as according to Thy will, we are 
to contend manfully against the world, 
the flesh and the devil, © assist us Al- 
mighty Ood ! Protect us by Thy provi- 
dence, arm us with Thy power, give 
Thy holy angels charge over us; in- 
struct us by thy word, and govern u* 



INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH ftOB. 146 

in all that we think or perform, and 
let Thy own hand, at all times lead 
and guide us, so that we may never do 
any thing displeasing in Thy sight. 

Be present with us, O God, in all the 
duties of our callings, and make us 
abundantly fruitful in all good works* 
Do Thou be pleased to bless the works 
of our hands, the words of our mouths, 
and the thoughts and desires of our 
hearts x and give us graee that it may 
ever be our meat and drink to do Thy 
will, and thereby hold fast the pearl of 
great priee, and a eonseienee void of 
offence towards God and man until 
death. And as we have already re* 
eeived innumerable blessings from 
Thee, in our creation, preservation, 
redemption, effectual calling and 
sanctification ; for by almighty power, 
didst thou create us, by thy wise prov- 
idence we have been kindly preserved, 
by Thine own holy word, thou hast in* 
structed us, through faith in the blood 
of thy son Jesus Christ, thou hast justi- 
fied us, and sanctified us by the influ- 
ences of thy Spirit. 

Thou hast also continued thy word 
and sacraments pure and unadultera* 
ted among us, from our earliest exis* 
tence, to the present period of our 
lives, and hast, in much mercy, pre- 
served us from merited punishment, 
from famine, hunger, war, pestilence. 

1Q 



146 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 

and above all tilings, thou hast provi- 
ded for us, in Christ Jesus 9 an exceed- 
ing and eternal weight of glory, in 
everlasting life 5 O, therefore, most mer- 
ciful Father ! grant as grateful hearts, 
that we may be enabled to spend the 
remainder of our lives to thine honour 
and glory, and with an eye continual- 
ly directed to death, judgment and 
eternity ; often contemplating the joys 
of Heaven, and the awful torments of 
hell, that each one of us, may continue 
faithful in our calling, so that when 
the great day of account shall come, 
we may stand before thy judgment bar 
and be welcomed into the joys of our 
JLord. 

And be pleased, O Lord ! to impart 
unto each one of thy servants and 
handmaidens, here in thy presence, 
our part of the good things of life, of 
health, honour, peace, joy and suste- 
nance ; and should it please thee to 
visit us, as thy children, with crosses, 
and adversities, O grant us the spirit 
of patience and of steadfastness, so 
that they may prove wholesome medi- 
cines to our souls. 

Remember, also, in tender mercy, thy 
beloved Church: preserve and culti- 
vate the vine, planted by thy own hand : 
may the manifold sufferings and tribu- 
lations of thy believing children pene- 
trate thy paternal heart; break the 



INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY WITH GOD. 147 

bands of anti-Christ, be a strong tower 
of refuge, to all who flee unto Thee in 
tlieir affliction. 

Command thy blessing also upon our 
Christian Government s pour out upon 
our rulers, a spirit of wisdom, and 
knowledge and of tlie fear of €*od ; that 
in all tlieir deliberations, they may 
have an eye to tliine honour and the 
best interests of the community. We 
commend unto Thee also that branch 
of thy Church to which we more espe- 
pecially belong % ever continue to bless 
it with true and faithful labourers. — 
JLook down, in tender compassion up- 
on all the mourners in Zion ; be unto 
them as a well of water in a dry and 
parched land. Pity the deluded, and 
O reclaim them ; be a source of com- 
fort to the tempted; be a physician 
to ail the sick ; feeA and nourish the 
hungry ; protect and guard the widow 
and the orphan, and be a present help 
to all the distressed. May our friends 
and relations be objects of thy special 
care and tender regard, and further 
thou the work of their hands. O Lord 
God! hear these our weak petitions, 
and be merciful to us sinners, for the 
sake of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, 
our only Mediator and Redeemer, in 
whose name we would call upon thee, 
as, 

"Our Father, who art in heaven* 



140 MORiriKa devotions for an individual. 

hallo wed be thy name. Thy kingdom 
come. Thy Trill be done on earth as it 
is in heaven. Give us this day our dai- 
ly bread, and forgive us our debts, as 
we forgive our debtors, and lead us 
not into temptation t but deliver us 
from evil. For thine is the kingdom, 
the power, and the glory, forever. 
Amen. 



JfEorning devotion for an individual. 

HYMN 4. C. M.—Devizes. 

1 ONCE more my soul the rising day, 
Salutes thy waking eyes ; 
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay 
To him that rules the skies. 

H Night unto night his name repeats, 
The day renews the sound ; 
Wide as the heav'n on which he sits, 
To turn the seasons round. 

3 5 Tis he supports my mortal frame ; 

My tongue shall speak his praise \ 
My sins would rouse his wrath to 
flame, 
And yet his wrath delays. 

4 On a poor worm thy pow'r might 

tread, 
And I could ne'er withstand ; 
Thy justice might have crush 'd me 

dead, 
But mercy held thine hand. 



WORKING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.. 149 

5 A thousand wretched souls are fled 

Since the last setting sun, 
And yet thou length'nest out mr 
thread, 
And yet my moments run. 

6 Dear God, let all my hours be thine, 

Whilst 1 enjoy the light ; 
Then shall my sun in smiles decline, 
And bring a peaceful night* 

" O satisfy us early with thy mercy / 
that we may rejoice and be glad all our 
days." Ps. 90, v. 14. 

O Almighty Ood and most merciful 
and gracious Father! It is a good 
thing, to give thanks unto thee, thou 
Most High! To speak of thy tender 
mercies which are renewed unto me 
every morning, and of thy faithful- 
ness which returns every evening. 
Therefore would I bow with humblest 
reverence before Thee, O thou who art 
the Guardian of Israel, who neither 
sleeps nor slumbers, and offer Thee 
thanks for thy guardian care and pro- 
tection extended unto me through all 
the past periods of my life, and espe- 
cially, through the silent watches of 
the past night, in which by thy good 
Providence, I was permitted to lay me 
down under the shadow of thy wings, 
and sleep secure from fear and from 



150 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 

all evils and dangers, as to soul and 
body. 

But especially would I render thee 
hearty thanks for tlie great love which 
thou hast exhibited towards me in 
Christ Jesus, by choosing - me in him, 
and causing 1 iny unworthy name t& he 
written in the JLamb 9 s book of life, 
that thou didst enstamp thine image 
upon my soul iiimy creation, and that 
although thy Image had been defaced 
hy sin, thou didst again renew it by 
thy word and Holy Spirit 5 yea, and 
that I might not be eternally misera- 
ble, thou didst send thine only begot* 
ten. and well beloved Son, from thy 
bosom, to redeem me from the power 
of sin, of satan, death and hell, and by 
the power of his death, bring me to 
the enjoyment of eternal glory. 

d-rant ine, therefore grace, O CJ-od I 
that I may continually keep all these 
inexpressible benefits in fresh remem- 
brance, and be led to laud, bless and 
magnify Thee, and shew forth thine 
honour, not only in words, hwt also hy 
my life and conduct, that I may there- 
by secure a participation of an inher- 
itance with the saints In light. For 
this purpose, enlighten thou the eyes 
of my understanding and grant me a 
new heart, that I may rightly know 
Thee, exercise a true and living faith 
in Thee, indulge a filial fear of Thee, 






MORNING DttVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 151 

and by a holy life, endeavour to walk 
according- to thy will. And inasmuch, 
as I have already daring my past life, 
offended Thee, in tern thousand in- 
stances, by sinning against Thee, and 
have richly deserved being cast off 
from thy favour and communion for 
ever, I beseech Thee, €> Father of mer- 
cies ! to forgive me all my sins, for the 
sake of Jesus Christ thine own Son. 
He merciful unto me, O God ! and ac- 
cording to the multitude of thy tender 
mercies, blot out all my transgressions. 
Wash me, O Lord! from all my sins, 
and purify me from all my pollutions, 
for I acknowledge ail my transgres- 
sions, and my iniquities are continual- 
ly before Thee ; but O blot them all out 
as with a thick cloud, and, cast them 
into the ocean of oblivion, so that they 
may no more be remembered before 
thee forever. Create within me a new 
heart, © God! and give me a contrite 
spirit, that I may, as a new creature, 
avoid all evil ways, and live in new 
obedience unto Thee, be patient under 
suffering, and at last die the death of 
the righteous, and be finally happy 
with Thee. 

Implant in my heart true faith, a 
lively hope, a itlial fear and a holy zeal 
for thine honour and glory. Enable 
me to exercise a godly sorrow for my 
sins ; render me watchful in all temp- 



15% Wemm&i* PETOTIOK8 FOR AN IHDITIOUAL, 

tations ; temperate in the use of all thy 
mercies; fearful to offend Thee; sub- 
missive under all thy chastisements, 
and conscientious in all I say and do, 
as it behoves an obedient child to do 
unto his father* 

Grant also, O blessed God! that I 
may always be so disposed towards 
my neighbour, that I may ever bear 
in mind the royal commandment of 
love. 

And I would finally commend unto 
Thee, all my interests and concerns, to- 
gether with my friends and relatives ; 
© preserve us all from evil and danger, 
and command thy choicest benediction 
upon ail our undertakings, so far as 
consistent with thy will, be thou unto 
us as a wall of fire ; keep us as the ap- 
ple of thine eye, sanctify us as to soul 
and body, so that our souls, bodies and 
spirits, may be preserved blameless 
unto the day of the I*ord Jesus. Give 
thine angels charge over us, and com- 
mand them to guide and preserve us in 
all our ways and goings, so that no 
evil may befal us. And, thou Author 
and Disposer of life and death, grant 
me at last, a happy es.it from this to a 
better world, that I may in the exercise 
of a true faith in Jesus Christ, in un- 
wavering patience, and a firm hope of 
eternal life, fall asleep in Jesus, and at 
the last day, may rise again from the 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 153 

slumbers of the tomb, with joy unspeak- 
able to everlasting* life. 

O Lord God I forgive all my wander- 
ings even whilst engaged in prayer, 
and grant a graeious answer to the 
voiee of my feeble supplications, for the 
alone sake of the prevalent intercession 
of Jesus my Redeemer, who has pro- 
mised, that all that we ask of Thee in 
his name, thou wouldst give unto us, 
and has therefore commanded us to 
call upon thee, as " Our father who art 
in heaven," &c. 






Evening devotion for a family* 

H Y M N 5. C. M.— Paradise. 

1 NOW from the altar of our hearts. 

Let flames of love arise; 
Assist us Lord, to offer up 
Our evening sacrifice. 

2 Minutes and mercies multiplied 

Have made up all this day ? 
Minutes came quick, but mercies were 
]More swift and free than they. 

3 New time, new favour, and new joys, 

Do a new song require ; 
Till we shall praise thee as we would, 
Accept our heart's desire. 

4 Lord of our days whose hand hath set 

New time upon the score, 
Thee may we praise for all Mir time, 
When time shall be no more. 



154 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 

" It is a good thing to give thanks unto 
the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy 
name, O JtZost High : to show forth thy 
loving kindness in the morning, and thy 
faithfulness every night." I*Se 92, v. 1, 2. 
" JLet the saints bejoyfulin glory: lei 
them sing aloud upon their beds." Ps. 
149, v. 5. 

•§t night, (when the hour of repose draws 
nigh,) it is the duty of every true child of 
God, to enter into serious examination 
and reflection how he has spent the day ? 
what sins he has committed § tvh.at oppor- 
tunities to do good he has neglected, and 
never venture to enter upon repose, until 
he has been again reconciled unto God, 
and for this purpose / with fervency of 
soul, call upon God, for the sake ofjfesus 
Christ, to forgive him all his sins, with 
the sincere determination to carefully 
guard against all manner of sin for the 
future. 

On the other hand, it becomes his tluty 
seriously to meditate upon the manifold 
blessings which he has received at the 
hand of God, by which he has been kindly 
preserved and sustained, and render unto 
his divine benefactor hearty thanks for all 
His benefits. 

Almighty God and gracious Father I 
we would reader unto Thee unfeigned 
thanks «for exhibiting thyself unto us 
during the past day, as a Refuge in 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 155 

danger. Comforter in trouble, our Pro- 
tector in the Iieat of temptation, and 
our kind Henefactor in all our necessi- 
ties. Our hungry, thirsty, and naked 
bodies, bast tbou replenished with 
food, water and raiment; and hast 
preserved us and ours, (by giving thine 
angels charge over us,) from all dan- 
gers seen and unseen, thou hast also led 
our souls into the green pastures of thy 
word ; thou hast enlightened our dark 
understandings, with a saving know- 
ledge of Thee ; and Thou hast circum- 
cised our hard and stony hearts, by the 
power of the Holy Spirit, and awaken- 
ed up in them the light of faith, and 
the holy lire of pure love to Thee, and 
hast thus bestowed upon us, ail things 
requisite to th.e promotion of our wel- 
fare in time and for eternity* 

IVow we sincerely acknowledge and 
confess unto Thee, that we are utterly 
unworthy of all these mercies which 
thou hast bestowed so bountifully upon 
us, thy servants and hand-maidens. 
Hut inasmuch as we cannot subsist for 
one ti&omeMt, without tUe supplies of 
thy mercy and grace, we would entreat 
Thee, © most Merciful Father, that 
thou wouldst, notwithstanding our 
great un worthiness, continue unto us 
thy paternal care, and renew thy mer- 
cies unto us every morning and even- 
ing* 



156 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 

And O thou Father of Lights, as the 
shades of the evening have encompass- 
ed us, be pleased to abide with us, as 
thy son did with his disciples at Emans. 
Forsake not the work of thine hands, 
and hide not the light of thy counte- 
nance and thy grace from us, through 
the darkness of this night. May the 
holy angels, those heavenly watchmen, 
remain with us, and be unto us, — as 
formerly unto thy servant Elisha, — a 
wall of lire, to preserve us from all the 
power and onsets of the Prince of dark- 
ness. When we sleep, may our hearts 
be awake unto Thee % nay, watch thou 
over us, Father in heaven ! so that we 
may be preserved from falling asleep 
in our sins, and dropping into eternity, 
In our transgressions % but grant, O 
Lord, that our hearts may, in the exer- 
cise of sincere love, of firm hope of eter- 
nal life, and of true repentance, watch 
day and night, as those who wait for 
the coming of their I^ord. 

Preserve us from all sinful and fool- 
ish dreams, idle thoughts, heavy cares, 
heart-rending anxieties % from all that 
might disturb our repose, and from all 
manner of pollution of soul and body. 
And should it please Thee to call any 
of us from time to eternity, during the 
silent watches of this night ; O be mer- 
ciful unto us, for Jesus 9 sake, and per- 
mit us, like Jacob of old, to behold the 



Bfftfftiftf DETOffOWi Fdlt A FAMILY. T37 

heavens opened, and enable us by 
Christ, the true ladder, which connects 
heaven and earth, to ascend up unto 
thy right hand in Paradise ; should it, 
however please Thee, to continue us 
longer in this world, O enable us to 
spend our days in perfecting holiness 
in the fear of the Lord. And O Father, 
for this purpose, wean our sinful hearts 
from the love of the world and all its 
sinful lusts, that our conversation may 
be in heaven, and that our supreme 
affections may be placed upon heaven 
and things divine, so as to enable us to 
forget that which is behind, and press 
forward towards the mark, for the 
prize of our high calling of God in 
Christ Jesus. 

For this purpose, O, Father ! accom- 
plish that good work of grace which 
thou hast begun in us, to the glory of 
thy name, and the salvation of our 
sinful souls; and may the repose of this 
night, prove strengthening to our frail 
bodies, so that we may be better pre- 
pared for the duties of the ensuing day. 
And as thou hast covered the earth 
with darkness, so also be pleased in 
thine infinite compassion, to cover all 
our sins and iniquities as with a thick 
cloud, that we may not on account of 
them, be banished from the light of thy 
countenance. 

Remember not the sins and trans- 



158 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A FAMILY. 

gressions of our youth, but remember 
us rat her according- to thy tender mer- 
cy and compassion in Christ Jesus, thy 
once suffering, hut now risen and glo- 
rified Son. Thou hast said, that light 
shall shine forth out of darkness. O 
enlighten us then, thou Father of 
lights, enlighten our darkened hearts 
snore and more with the knowledge of 
the light of Jesus Christ, and of thy 
glory, that as children of light, we 
may walk in the commandments. 

Bless also our Christian government, 
that under the protection of it, all 
things may prosper, that righteousness 
and truth may kiss each other; that 
peace, and the general welfare of the 
community may spring forth and 
bloom, and that they may ever visit 
and abide in thine house. Fill those 
more and more, who are stewards over 
the mysteries, with a spirit of wisdom 
and knowledge and the fear of God, 
Bless thou with power in word and 
truth, pure and holy lives. Preserve 
our bodies from injurious diseases, and 
our souls from the fiery darts of the 
devil, and our nourishment from all 
things calculated to injure our health. 
Look down in tender compassion 
upon all truly penitent sinners ; com- 
fort the distressed ; redeem and 
strengthen the persecuted; restore to 
health all whom thou hast visited 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 169 

with indisposition ; bind up the 
wounds which thou hast inflicted 
both as to body and soul ; protect all 
widows and orphans as the apple of 
thine eye ; preserve them as a compas- 
sionate Father and righteous Judge* 
Have mercy upon all such as cry unto 
Thee in their distress ; wipe away 
their tears 5 turn their lamentations 
into joy; and give them the garments 
of praise for the spirit of heaviness. 
Or ant us, O Lord ! these our humble 
petitions, for thou canst do unto us in- 
finitely and abundantly more than we 
can ask or think, for Jesus, thy belov- 
ed Son's sake, who hast commanded 
us to pray " Our Father" &c. 



Evening devotion for an individual* 

H Y M N 6. C. M— -Rochester. 

1 LORD thou wilt hear me when I pray, 

I am forever thine 5 
I fear before thee all the day, 
Nor would I dare to sin* 

2 And while I rest my weary head, 

From cares and business free, 
5 Tis sweet conversing on my bed 
"With my own heart and Thee. 

3 I pay this evening sacrifice ; 

And when my work is done, 
Or eat Ood ! my faith and hope relies 
Upon thy grace alone. 



160 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 

4 Tli 11$ with my thoughts composed to 
peace 
I'll give mine eyes to sleep, 
Thy hand in safety keeps my days, 
And will my slumbers keep* 

" 1 will both lay me down in peace, ana 
sleep? for Thou Lord, only makes t me 
dwell in safety." Ps. 4, v. 8. " The Lord is 
my light and my salvation / whom shall I 
fear f The Lord is the strength of my life f 
of whom shall I be afraid I" Ps. 27, v. 1. 

O most holy Ood and heavenly Fa- 
ther, whose eyes are so pure that they 
cannot behold iniquity ! How shall I 
a poor sinful creature, who am by na- 
ture a child of wrath, a slave of satan, 
nay, a fiend as it were of hell, take 
it upon myself to appear before Thee I 
I am not only impure and depraved 
by nature, and incapable of doing any 
good, and prone to all manner of evil % 
but I am a thousand fold more so, by 
my actual sins and transgressions, 
which are more in number, alas ! than 
the hairs of my head, or the sand of 
the sea shore. For alas ! I have trans- 
gressed all thy commandments in ten 
thousand instances, in thoughts, de- 
sires, gestures, words, and deeds, and 
have thereby excited thy wrath and 
displeasure, profaned thy holy name, 
grieved thy Holy Spirit, ruined my im- 



KYENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 101 

mortal soul, rendered my conscience 
impure and uneasy, and above all, my 
transgressions and disobedience have 
been daily repeated. Alas! notwith- 
standing all thy warnings and calls 
unto me, and mine own solemn vows ; 
and even during the past day, I have 
added new sins unto the black cata- 
logue of my past iniquities. Now O 
Lord ! what shall I say ? I know that 
death is the wages of sin ; but I pray 
Thee O Father ! to remember me in 
tender mercy. May I be covered with 
shame and confusion of face, under a 
sense of my unfruitfulness in religion, 
by which I have caused ethers to be 
offended and to stumble. Create with- 
in me a godly sorrow, which worketh a 
repentance, which needeth not to be re- 
pented of, that my soul may be grieved 
on account of my sins, not out of fear of 
punishment, or that I have thereby me- 
rited death, hell, and eternal damna- 
tion, but out of love to Thee, and that 
I have with my sins, excited the wrath 
and displeasure of such a kind and 
compassionate father, whose bowels of 
love and mercy towards me should 
have ever secured my unwavering obe- 
dience and unfeigned love to his holy 
will and commandments. Awaken in 
me, a true hatred to all, even my most 
secret bosom sins, that I may guard 
more vigilantly against them x and 

11 



\Q% BTININ* DfcTOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 

not do as heretofore : when I have in- 
deed confessed my sins and promised 
amendment, but alas ! have not de- 
parted from all mine iniquities. 

Cancel all my past sins, O God ! with 
the precious blood of thy beloved Son, 
comfort me with thy Holy Spirit, and 
speak unto my soul, saying:, ' I am thy 
Salvation.' I would render unto Thee, 

thou Father of compassion ! most 
hearty praise, honour and thanksgiv- 
ing, for all the precious benefits, 
which thou hast bestowed upon me 
and mine, during* the past periods of 
my life, and especially during the past 
day, in which Thou hast crowned me 
with loving* kindness and tender mer- 
cies. Blessed be thy holy name, that 
thou hast preserved me from so many 
dangers, into which I might have fal- 
len, and to which my heart was so 
prone, and hast, on the other hand, as 

1 trust, promoted some good through 
my feeble instrumentality. O Lord 
God! may the goodness which thou 
art exhibiting unto me from day to 
day lead me unto unfeigned repent- 
ance ; and grant that I may not render 
Thee thanks only in words, but that I 
may also offer myself as to soul, body 
and spirit unto Thee, and regulate my 
whole life and conduct according to 
thy will, that I may, at last see thy sal- 
vation, and praise Thee in heaven for- 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. It* 

evermore* And inasmuch as I am 
about giving myself over to repose, I 
would earnestly commend myself unto 
thy care and protection, O thou Guar- 
dian of Israel ! who neither sleeps nor 
slumbers, and beseech Thee to spread 
out over me and all who are near and 
dear unto me, the protecting banner of 
thy love, and guard us as the apple of 
thine eye. Be thou as a wall of fire 
around about us t watch over me with 
thy goodness, protect me by thy grace 
from all the works of darkness, and 
preserve me by thine almighty power 
from all danger ; and grant me a sea- 
sonable and refreshing repose, that I 
may be enabled to discharge the duties 
of my station with cheerfulness, dur- 
ing the coming day; and grant, that 
although mine eyes may be closed in 
sleep, my heart may continue awake 
waiting for the approach of the hea- 
venly Bridegroom of my soul, Jesus 
Christ* 

And as we do not know when we lay 
ourselves down to sleep, whether we 
shall be permitted to rise again from 
our beds; or in the morning, whether 
we shall live until the evening ; I be- 
seech Thee most fervently, to enable 
me to close mine eyes, in the exercise of 
a true and living faith, and in the as- 
surance of thy love, in true penitence 
on account of my sins, in a firm reli- 



f§4 bvknino devotions for an individual. 

ance on the bitter sufferings and death 
of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, in the 
blessed peaee of a good conscience, in 
sincere love and reconciliation to all 
men, and in the goodly hope of ever- 
lasting life, when I shall rise again at 
the last day. 

Enable me also, if I am permitted to 
rise on the coming morning, in my 
usual health and strength, to spend the 
day in such a manner as though it were 
my last day on earth, so that I may be 
enabled to meet death at last with 
cheerfulness ; and say with the apostle : 
If I live, I live unto the Lord, if I die, I 
die unto the Lord ; therefore -whether 
I live or die, I am the Lords ; and that 
I may finally, by the sleep of death, 
enter into that eternal life, which Thou 
hast prepared for all "who love Thee, 
and sincerely believe on thy beloved 
Son Jesus Christ ; to whom with Thee, 
and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed all 
praise, honour and glory, both now 
and forever. Amen. 



Instructions about going to bed. 

When the pious Christian lays off his 
clothes in order to go to bed, he should 
reflect that he has been brought another 
day nearer death, when he shall, in like 
manner, have to lay off his body, and his 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. 105 

soul shall have to appear before thejudg* 
ment bar of God, and thai it is necessary 
therefore, by true repentance and holiness 
to purify and cleanse it, in order that that 
holy God, who is of such pure eyes that he 
cannot look down upon sin, may in mevcy 
accept and save it. 

The bed in which he lays himself down, 
should remind him of his grave, and he 
should therefore, when retiring, send 
forth unto his God and Redeemer, such 
holy aspirations as the following: 

© most blessed Lord and Saviour! 
Thou who didst, by thy precious death 
and burial, take away the sting of 
death, and the darkness of the grave, 
grant unto me, the precious fruit of 
this holy triumph of thine, and be my 
guide, both in life and death* In thy 
name, will I lay me down in peace, 
and rest, for Thou, O Lord ! makest me 
to dwell in safety. Enlighten, OXord, 
the eyes of mine understanding, that I 
may not sleep the sleep of Death. Into 
thy hands I commend my spirit, for 
Thou hast redeemed me, O Thou cove- 
nant-keeping God ! Bless and preser>e 
me therefore, both now and forever. 
Amen. 



166 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 

Pious reflections and aspirations when 
awaking in the night, and unable to 
sleep. 

" When I remember thee upon my bed, 
and meditate on Thee in the night watch' 
es. Because Thou hast been my help, 
therefore will I rejoice." Ps. G3, v. 6, 7. 
•find again says Holy Davids " TWhen I 
awake, Iain near unto Thee." 

© most merciful Ood ! by whose all- 
wise providence, king: Ala asueres, could 
not sleep upoia his bed of down, whilst, 
on the other hand, thy holy apostle 
Peter, was enabled to enjoy a comfor- 
table repose, whilst loaded with chains 
in prison ; behold, how nay sleep is in- 
terrupted. Have mercy therefore, up- 
on my feeble nataire, which stands in 
need of naore refreshing repose ; yea, 
O blessed Jesus, (who didst watch and 
pray whilst thy disciples slept, and 
who has spent many a night in prayer 
and saapplication for any sake,) forgive 
me any great drowsiaaess in divine 
things; aaad if it be thy will, that I 
shall spend this night iaa a sleepless 
manner, O preserve me from all sinful 
and idle thoaaghts, from all tempta- 
tions of the eaaeaaay of soaals, and all 
evil designs, and grant me ga'ace, that 
while I ana awake, I may imitate the 
example of thy dear servants Paul and 
Silas, and praise and adore Thee in 



PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 167 

the midnight hour, and spend the time 
in pious meditations; and permit me, 
amidst the thick darkness with which 
I am surrounded, to hold sweet con- 
Terse and communion with thee* 

When I contemplate myself, O God ! 
I behold nothing but sin and sinful in- 
firmities, which render me an object 
of displeasure to myself. But when my 
thoughts are directed to Thee, I behold 
nothing but perfection and holiness. 

© that I had known Thee my God, 
from the days of my childhood, that I 
had chosen Thee, as the most exalted 
and perfect of beings, and had honour- 
ed and loved Thee % that I had sought 
and longed for Thee, as the fountain 
of all good, nay, as the chief good, the 
enjoyment of which, alone is sufficient 
to satisfy the desires of my soul, and 
that I had followed and served Thee, 
as my Father, I^ord and King; then 
should I have enjoyed more serenity of 
soul, and would at present, have no 
doubt of a participation of thy grace, 
and my everlasting salvation. 

But alas ! I have left these things too 
much out of remembrance, and on the 
contrary, have sacrificed the most of 
the days of my life, to my sinful flesh, 
and to an ungodly world ; or, if I have 
preserved some of my days for thy ser- 
vice, O Lord, the number of them has 
veen so small, compared with timatw 



168 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &€. 

spent in the service of other objects, that 
they are not worthy of being brought 
into account, and hence, O L<ord, I 
have reason to be anxiously solicitous 
for a sense of thy forgiving love and 
mercy. Alas ! alas ! what must my 
God think of me, that I have been so 
indifferent about pleasing him, that I 
have manifested so little engagedness 
in his service, and that, (notwithstand- 
ing his innumerable favours, by which 
he has, as with so many cords of love, 
endeavoured to draw me unto himself,) 
I have neither rightly loved nor ador- 
ed him. 

I should have to sink down, in des- 
pair, O IiOrd ! if thy word did not assure 
me, that thy grace and goodness are 
infinitely greater than all my sins, and 
that Thou art much more disposed to 
show mercy to a penitent sinner, than 
to inflict vengeance upon him. Hence, 
I behold the precious ransom, which 
thy beloved Son Jesus Christ paid down 
for me, in his bitter sufferings and 
death; the precious promises of thy 
gospel ; the examples of thy tender com- 
passion towards so many great, but 
penitent sinners; Holy baptism, which 
I received in my infancy, to assure me 
of my salvation, and of that kind pro- 
tection and the many benefits, which I 
have enjoyed at thine hand, during 
my whole life. All these reflections 



PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &C. 169 

awaken within me the cheerful hope, 
that thou wilt be merciful unto me, and 
forgive me all my sins. 

O holy and righteous God ! how of- 
ten have I offended Thee with my sins 
and transgressions, and yet Thou con- 
tinues! thy goodness unto me. Thou 
didst permit me to pass the day, which 
has come to a close, in peace and safety, 
and hast now permitted me to enjoy 
the repose of the night. 

O Thou Fount of every blessing! lan- 
guage fails to express all the grati- 
tude I owe Thee, for the many exhibi- 
tions of thy mercy and grace towards 
me; while I am ashamed and con- 
founded when I remember that I have 
too often rewarded Thee with dire in- 
gratitude for all thy mercies. 

Ah ! how many of my fellow crea- 
tures, fare worse than I do, who are 
much better than I am. 

Alas! how many pilgrims and travel- 
lers, fall by the hand of violence, or are 
tossed to and fro, on the tempestuous 
waves of the ocean, or fall into the re- 
lentless hands of robbers, while I am 
permitted to enjoy the repose of the 
present night. 

O how many poor captives sigh and 
lament under the galling fetters of sla- 
very, in the endurance of hunger and 
thirst, of heat and cold, and of a thou- 
sand kinds of sufferings, and are per- 



170 PIOUS REFLECTIONS, &LC. 

mitted finally, to sink under them, 
whilst I am permitted to lay me down 
as it were, under mine own Tine and 
fig-tree, in peaee and safety, and rest 
upon my bed. How many thousand 
sick and afflicted sons and daughters 
of Adam, are at present, enduring hun- 
ger and distress, and are compelled to 
pass their days in ahject misery, whilst 
I receive an abundance of all things, 
at thy paternal hands ! Alas ! how ma- 
ny of my brethren in the Lord, are ex- 
posed to the most dire persecutions on 
account of the gospel, and for the sake 
of thy holy name, and are deprived of 
thine ordinances, the greatest, nay only 
comfort of their souls ; and are com- 
pelled to live in hourly danger of suf- 
fering martyrdom, in the most fearful 
form, whilst Thou makest me to dwell 
in safety, and to enjoy uninterrupted- 
ly, the reading and hearing of the 
word, to the comfort and consolation 
of my soul. 

Therefore, I thank Thee, O Lord ! for 
every exhibition of thy goodness, and 
for thy kind over-ruling Providence, 
and beseech Thee, that thou wouldst 
also remember in tender mercy, those 
who are now in circumstances of afflic- 
tion. Hearken unto their sighs and 
lamentations ; console them in all their 
distress % comfort them in their trials x 
protect them in the midst of all their 



A NIGHT THOUGHT. 171 

dangers $ deliver them out of their tri- 
bulations t remove their anxieties ; 
eonsole them with thy saving help; 
may thy good Spirit keep them, that 
they may acknowledge thy faithful- 
ness and compassion, bow submissive- 
ly to thy fatherly providence, and after 
outriding the storms and billows of 
time, may they with their whole soul, 
laud and magnify thy all-sustaining 
grace, whilst bathing their weary souls 
in the seas of heavenly rest, through- 
out eternity. Finally, grant unto me, 
O Lord, and also unto all who receive 
similar blessings at Thine hand, such 
measures of thy grace as will fill our 
souls with gratitude towards Thee, and 
lead us to dedicate our souls, bodies and 
spirits, unto thy service, and thus lead 
us to magnify and praise Thee while 
on earth, and when it shall please Thee 
to transplant us to heaven, permit us 
to unite with all the redeemed from the 
earth, in chanting an eternal .Halle- 
lujah. Amen. 



1 JYight Thought. 

HYMN. 7. C. M.— Communion. 

1 HOW can I sleep whilst angels sing, 
When all the saints on high, 
Cry " glory to my God and King, 
The Lamb that once did die :" 



\1% A NIGHT THOUGHT. 

When guardian angels fill the room, 
And hov'ring round my bed, 

Do elap their wings in love to him, 
Who is my glorious head* 

3 Such joyful spirits never sleep, 

Their love is ever new. 
Then O my soul, no longer cease 

To love and praise him too, 
For I, of all the race that fell, 

Or all the heavenly host, [soul, 

Have greatest cause, with humbler 

To love and praise him most* 

3 Did God the Father love men so, 

As to give up his Son, 
To be a ransom and redeem 

Them from the sins they'd done ? 
Did Jesus leave the Father's breast, 

That heav'n of heav'ns on high, 
To come to earth, this world of woe, 

For guilty worms to die ? 

4 And has the Holy Ghost applied 

The Blood of Christ to me, 
To cleanse my guilty soul from sin, 

And set my spirit free* 
With me O heav'n and earth admire, 

Who am of all the race, 
The chiefest sinner, and deserve 

In hell the hottest place* 

ft I¥o longer then will I lie here, 
But rise and praise and pray ! 
And join to sing whilst I enjoy 
A glimpse of heavenly day* 



Lord give me strength to die to sin, 
To run the Christian race, 

To live to God and glorify 
The riches of his grace. 

If meditation all divine, 

At midnight fill my soul i 
Sleep shall no longer all my power 

And faculties controul. 
My lovely Jesus, while on earth 

Did rise before 'twas day, 
And to a solitary place 

Departed there to pray. 

I'll do as did my blessed Lord § 

His footsteps I will trace, 
I'll go to meet him in the grove 

And vie w his smiling face ; [Xove 
And when my soul hath found my 

Whom all my powers adore, 
I'll bring him to my Father's house, 

And let him go no more. 



•Horning devotions for the JLord's day.* 

HYMN 8. L. M. — Sabbath Morning. — Bartimeus. 

1 HAIL, thou happy morn so glorious! 

Come, ye saints, your griefs give o'er; 
Sing, how Jesus rose victorious, 

By his own almighty power : 
Hallelujah, 

To the glorious Son of God* 

* Any of the following prayers may be used in the 
family, or social circle, by substituting the plural instead 
of the singular. 



174 

2 Tell us, Seraphs, ye that wander, 
When ye saw the Lord arise, 

When ye saw him soaring yonder, 
What were then yonr heavenly joys? 

Then 'twas " Glory 
To the conquering King of kings." 

3 Countless bands of angels glorious, 
Cloth- d in bright etherial blue ; 

Straight the sound of Christ victorious, 
Front their silver trumpets flew* 

Christ triumphant 
Rises conqueror o'er the tomb* 

3 See, my friends, is that the Saviour, 
Who was crown'd with cruel thorns ? 

Glorious majesty and power, 
Mow his sacred head adorns. 

Hallelujah; 
That dear head no more shall bleed. 

4 Is that he, who died on Calvary, 
Who was pierc'd with many a spear ? 

Clad with countless suns of glory, 
See, he rises through the air. 

Hallelujah; 
Zion's mourner, now rejoice. 

5 Was the person, then, so glorious, 
Which the Jews so marr'd and 

spoil'd? 
Yes, ye saints, we own his Godhead, 
Though by some he is revil'd ; 

All creation 
Soon shall own him Lord of all. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS TOR TIIE LORD'S DAT. 175 

tf Tremble, ye who him rejected, 

IiO ! he breaks through yonder cloud; 

Rise, ye saints, and shout triumphant, 
Victory ! through J esus' blood. 

Hark ! the trumpet 
Sounds the resurrection morn. 

O great and blessed God, the Maker 
and Lord of heaven and earth ! Thou 
art possessed of all power, wisdom, 
and goodness ; all riches, majesty, and 
dominion are thine ; and Thou art 
worthy to be revered and honoured, 
loved and obeyed, by all on earth, and 
all in heaven. I adore Thee as the 
Fountain of all being, of all happiness 
and perfection ; and particularly as 
the God of my life, the Author of all 
my past and present mercies, and the 
Foundation of all my future hopes. 

My times, O Lord, are in thy hand. 
On Thee do I constantly depend, for 
the continuance of that life which I at 
first received from Thee, and which I 
am under the strongest obligations, to 
devote entirely to thy service. But 
more especially am I bound to honour 
Thee, with that portion of my time 
which Thou hast in a peculiar manner 
consecrated to thyself. I thank Thee, 
for the institution of the Sabbath, as 
a day of rest, set apart from worldly 
cares and labours, to thy more imme- 
diate worship and service ; and would 



170 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUB LORD'S DAT. 

esteem it a delight, holy unto the jLord, 
and honourable. 

Many seasons of mercy, and means of 
grace have I foolishly wasted, or sin- 
fully abused. Yet, blessed be thy name, 
Thou hast now brought me to see the 
light of another of the days of the Son 
of Man. O let not this Sabbath be ad- 
ded to the number of my lost Sabbaths ; 
but help me to spend it in thy fear, to 
employ it in holy acts and devout exer- 
cises, and to improve it to my spiritual 
edification, and to my increase in di- 
vine knowledge, grace, and comfort. 

This is the day in which the great 
Redeemer of the world, after having 
made his soul an offering for sin, broke 
the bands of death, and rose triumph- 
ant from the grave. O that I, being 
quickened together with him, and rais- 
ed from the death of sin, to a life of 
righteousness, may be engaged to seek 
those things which are above, where 
he now sits at thy right hand ! Help 
me to chase away carnal and worldly 
affections from my heart, and to raise 
my thoughts and views to spiritual and 
heavenly objects. And may all my sen- 
timents, words, and actions from the 
beginning to the end of this thy day, be 
holy and unreprovable in thy sight. 

Give me, O Lord, such worthy ap- 
prehensions of thine adorable nature 
and attributes, such admiring views 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 177 

of thy creating power and wisdom, of 
thy providential care, and of thy re- 
deeming* love and grace, as shall ex- 
cite in my soul all suitable affections 
towards Thee ? the deepest veneration, 
the purest love, the firmest hope, and 
sublimest joy. Form my soul to a re- 
semblance of thyself; and grant that 
by the influence of thy good Spirit, I 
may be renewed in the spirit of my 
mind, and enabled to put on that New 
Man who, after God, is created in righ- 
teousness and true holiness. May the 
great work of religion, in all its 
branches, be considered by me as the 
most honourable, the most important, 
and the most delightful employment in 
which I can be engaged. And in this 
business, let me never be slothful or ne- 
gligent, but always prepared to serve 
Thee with cheerfulness, fidelity and 
zeal. 

I would this morning, with all pos- 
sible seriousness and solemnity, renew 
the dedication of myself to thee, my 
God. Thine I am, by the strongest ties 
of duty, interest and gratitude; and 
thine I would forever be. Take Thou 
the full possession of my heart, which 
Thou hast formed for thyself: and help 
me to make an unfeigned surrender of 
all that I am, and all that I have, to 
Thee, the great proprietor of all. With 
purpose of heart would I cleave unto 

12 



178 MORNLNG DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 

Thee* O keep me close to thyself; and 
let nothing* he able to separate me 
from thy love* 

Help me, O Lord, to live under a con- 
stant sense of thy presence, and to main- 
tain an habitual communion with 
Thee, my Heavenly Father, and with 
thy Son, Jesus Christ. May I find it 
good for me to draw near unto Thee, 
from time to time, in the exercise of 
private and public devotion; and be 
in the happy number of those whom 
Thou choosest, and causest to approach 
unto Thee with acceptance ; whom 
Thou satisfies! with the goodness of thy 
house, and cheerest with the hope of 
worshipping and serving Thee more 
perfectly in thy heavenly temple. 

In an humble imitation of thy diffu- 
sive goodness, O Thou most benevolent 
of Beings, I would desire to cherish in 
my heart, a sincere good will and fer- 
vent charity to all my fellow creatures, 
who are thy offspring. Nor let me 
think it enough, merely to wish them 
well, and to abstain from injuring 
them, but make me ever ready to do 
them all the good in my power. And 
especially, let me never be wanting in 
the discharge of those duties which 
belong to my particular station and 
relations. 

Give me also wisdom clearly to dis- 
cern, and effectually to pursue my own 



17& 

trust, welfare and happiness. Teach 
me to prefer the interest of my soul to 
that of my body; to keep all my appe- 
tites and passions under a due regula- 
tion ; to cultivate the graces of humility 
and meekness, moderation and con- 
tentment, to possess my soul in patience, 
amidst all the trials and troubles of this 
present state ; and to be, above all 
things, solicitous to ensure my future 
and eternal bliss. 

For these most important purposes, 
bless, O merciful God, all the means of 
grace that I enjoy ; and particularly 
the opportunities I may have this day 
of assembling with my fellow Chris- 
tians, to attend the ordinances of pub- 
lic worship and religious instruction. 
Assist thy ministering servants in their 
addresses to Thee, and in their en- 
deavours to improve and edify their 
hearers ; and let their services in thy 
sanctuary be attended with much suc- 
cess. 

And now unto Hiui who was dead, 
but is alive, and lives forevermore, who 
has redeemed us to God, by his blood, 
and is exalted to be our Prince and 
Saviour — to him be glory and domin- 
ion forever and ever — Amen. 



180 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 

Evening devotions for the Lord's day. 

HYMN 9. C. M.— Winter. 

1 FREQUENT the dayofGodretnrn§ 9 

To slued his quick'ning beams ; 
And yet how slow devotion burns ; 
How languid are its flames ! 

2 Aecept our faint attempts to love. 

Our frailties, laord, forgive ; 
We would be like thy saints above, 
And praise Thee while we live. 

3 Increase, O liord, our faith and hope, 

And fit us to ascend, 
Where the assembly ne'er breaks up, 
And Sabbaths never end : 

4 [Where we shall breathe in heav'nly 

air, 
With heav'nly lustre shine ; 
Before the throne of God appear, 
And feast on love divine. 

5 There shall we sing, and never tire, 

But sound immortal lays ; 
And with the bright seraphic choir 
Shout our Immanuel's praise.] 

O most blessed and glorious God ! 
thy name is excellent in all the earth ; 
and thou hast set thy glory above the 
heavens. Thou art great, and great- 
ly to be praised, thou art good, and 
greatly to be loved ; and worthy to re- 
ceive the united adoration and ho- 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE XORd's DAY. 181 

mage of all thy reasonable creatures* 
Thou needest not, indeed, our services, 
nor canst receive the least advantage 
from our praises 5 but never can we be 
more honourably and advantageously 
employed than in celebrating thy per- 
fections, admiring thy works, grate- 
fully recollecting the past instances of 
thy goodness, and imploring the con- 
tinuance of thy kind and favourable 
regards. 

Blessed be thy name for the renewed 
opportunities I have this day had of 
waiting upon Thee in thy house, of 
joining in the public services of thy 
sanctuary, of hearing thy word ex- 
plained and enforced, and of being 
from thence instructed and encouraged 
in those ways of righteousness which 
lead to life eternal. Help me, good 
liord, to make a proper improvement 
of those religious advantages and 
means of grace which thou affordest 
me 5 let me not abuse them by resting 
in them, but be solicitous that the ends 
for which they are designed may be 
answered in me. Suable me to live in 
a manner suitable to the profession I 
make, to the privileges I enjoy, to the 
obligations and engagements I am un- 
der to Thee. O that thy laws may be 
more deeply engraven on my heart! 
O that the truths I have this day heard, 
may be so faithfully kept in mind, as 



182 EVENINQ DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 

to be of lasting use ? for the better in- 
formation of iny judgment, and regu- 
lation of my temper and conduct. 

FaFdoii those imperfections most 
mereiful Fattier, which have attended 
my religious duties tliis day, in tliy 
liouse or in niy own. Forgive the 
deadness and dullness of my affections, 
tlie wandering of my tliouglits, and 
the distractions of my mind* I am 
grieved and ashamed to think how 
little my heart has been ewLgn^eA in 
the work of prayer and praise. With 
what indilference have I heard the 
messages of thy grace, and attended 
to the notices of thy will ; and how un- 
affected have 1 been with a sense of the 
evil of sin, the worth of my soul, the 
weight of eternity, and the greatness 
of that futuve glory and felicity which 
will be the certain portion of all that 
truly love and serve Thee ! 

Oh that I may have the wisdoan to 
spend my Sabbaths better, and learn 
to be at all times more serious and con- 
siderate, more spiritual and heavenly- 
minded, than I have heeik hitherto! 
I*et my thoughts be more frequently 
and delightfully employed in medita- 
ting on the glorious perfections of thy 
nature, as displayed in thy works, and 
in thy word. Purify my affections, 
that I may love Thee above all, and 
delight in Thee and in thy laws % and 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 183 

may I renounce and detest whatever is 
evil in itself and displeasing to Thee. 
And grant that I may every day feel 
more and more of that peace and sat- 
isfaction which is the genuine effect of 
a growing acquaintance with Thee ; 
and a close adherence to Thee, in all 
the ways of holy obedience. 

Whilst I am here in this world, help 
me by faith to live above it. Suffer me 
not to mind and pursue earthly things, 
as if I had chosen the earth for my por- 
tion, and had no better inheritance in 
view; but, knowing that I have here 
no continuing city, may I seek one to 
come ; even that city which has foun- 
dations, whose builder and maker is 
Ood. Considering myself as only a 
stranger and pilgrim on earth, let me 
live like a citizen of heaven, and have 
my conversation there. Enable me, O 
Lord, by thy mighty power, to over- 
come all the difficulties and opposi- 
tions, trials and temptations, which I 
may meet with in my journey heaven- 
wards. And by making daily advan- 
ces and improvements in holiness and 
goodness, may I be gradually growing 
more and more lit for a share in that 
glorious inheritance which is among 
thy saints in light. 

Blessed be thy name, O Ood of grace, 
that Thou didst take compassion on a 
world that lay in wickedness, and was 



184 

exposed to misery and ruin ; and didst 
contrive tlie grand sclieme of our re- 
demption and salvation t ttiat when 
tlie fullness of time was come, tliou 
didst send forth thine own Son into the 
world, to execute tlie purposes of thy 
goodness § to teach us the most impor- 
tant and salutary doctrin es ; to instruct 
us in the knowledge of thy nature and 
will 5 of the duties thou requires! of us, 
and of the blessings thou hast intended 
for us 5 to set before us the most amia- 
ble and animating example of univer- 
sal goodness, in his own character and 
conduct ; and at length to suffer and 
die, the just for the unjust, that he 
might bring us to €*od. Blessed be thy 
name, that thou hast, with thy right 
hand, exalted this our suffering and 
dying Redeemer, to be our Prince and 
Saviour % and that having been made 
perfect through sufferings, he is become 
the Author of eternal salvation to all 
them that obey him. 

Blessed be thy name, that the tidings 
of this salvation have reached my ears ; 
and that the kind offers of grace, peace 
and eternal life, are held forth to me 
in the gospel of thy Son ; that thou art 
waiting to be gracious unto me, and 
earnestly inviting and importuning 
me to be reconciled unto Thee. O that 
I may cheerfully comply with thy mer- 
ciful invitations % and that I may 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR^ THE LORD'S DAY. 185 

thankfully accept thine offered bless- 
ings on thine own terms, and be taught 
most highly to value, and wisely to im- 
prove all those inestimable privileges 
and advantages of a spiritual nature 
with which thou hast favoured me. 

For the many temporal mercies Thou 
art bestowing upon me from day to 
day i and particularly for the preser- 
vation and supplies of the day past, I 
would likewise offer unto Thee my 
unfeigned tribute of gratitude and 
praise. O let a sense of thine unmerit- 
ed goodness abide continually on my 
heart ; and help me not only to speak, 
but to live to thy praise. 

And now be pleased to take me, O 
Liord, into thy care and protection this 
night. ]>efend me from all evils and 
dangers, and refresh me with sweet 
and comfortable repose. I^et me lie 
down with holy thoughts of Thee ; and 
when I awake, let me be still with 
Thee. 

I would recommend to thy kind and 
gracious regards, all my relatives and 
friends. I>o them good and bless them 
with all such spiritual and temporal 
blessings as thou knowest to be most 
proper and needful for them. Visit in 
mercy, such as are under affliction. 
Oive them patience and submission to 
thy will? relieve their distresses, and 
afford them all the necessary supports, 



186 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd'd DAY. 

and those divine consolations, which 
are neither few nor small* 

Extend, O thou <8od and Father of 
all, thy loving kindness and compas- 
sion to the whole human race. Send 
the light of thy glorious gospel through 
every part of the habitable world ; and 
wheresoever it shines, may it be the 
means of spreading not only knowledge 
and truth, hwit righteousness and peace 
amongst them. Continue thy merciful 
regard to this land of my nativity. In- 
spire our rulers with wisdom and in- 
tegrity; guide all our public counsels 
and affairs for the best ; watch over 
our liberties ; pardon our national sins 
and work a thorough reformation 
amongst us. Be gracious to all who 
minister in holy things ; and succeed 
their endeavours for promoting the 
cause of true religion, hy their useful 
instructions and exemplary lives. 

Hear me, good I^ord, in these my im- 
perfect petitions, and mercifully accept 
of this my evening sacrifice of prayer 
and praise. Keep me in thy fear and 
in thy favour, through the remainder 
of my short and uncertain life ; support 
and comfort me in my dying moments; 
and after death be Thou my portion 
and exceeding great reward, through 
Jesus Christ, the Son of thy love; in 
whom I desire to be found living and 
dying, and by whom I would ascribe 



187 



to Thee, O heavenly Father, all honour, 
glory and dominion, now and ever — 

Amen. 



Devotions for the Isord's day morning. 

HYMN 10. C. M.— St. Martin's. 

1 COME, dearest Eord and feed thy 

sheep, 
On this sweet day of rest ; 
© bless this flock and make this fold 
Enjoy an heavenly rest. 

2 Weleome and precious to my soul, 

Are these sweet days of love ; 
But what a Sabbath shall I keep, 
When I shall rest above. 

3 I come, I wait, I hear, I pray, 

Thy footsteps, lLord I trace, 
Here, in thine own appointed way, 
I wait to seek thy face. 

4 These are the sweet and precious days 

©n which my Eord I've seen ; 
And oft when feasting on thy word, 
In raptures I have been. 

5 © if my soul when death appears, 

In this sweet frame be found, 
I'll clasp my Saviour in my arms, 
And leave this earthly ground. 

6 Eong for that delightful hour, 

When from this clay undress'd, 
I shall be cloth'd in robes divine, 
And be forever blest. 



188 

O Eternal sand Almighty Ood, hea- 
ven is thy throne, and this earth is but 
thy footstool! I adore thine infinite 
condescension for making that to be 
my duty which I ought ever to esteem 
my greatest privilege — the permission 
and opportunity of praising Thee, and 
celebrating thy perfections. The re- 
turn of this sacred morning excites 
in my mind a fresh and grateful re- 
membrance of thy kind regard to my 
soul, as well as to my body. With the 
sincerest gratitude I thank Thee, O 
Thou beneficent Parent of all, for 
every instance of thy goodness towards 
me. All I have, I derived at first from 
thy bounty. All I enjoy, fiows from 
the same divine munificence. It is 
owing to thy care that I have been kept 
in safety through the darkness and si- 
lence of the past night. And it is an 
instance of thy fatherly compassion 
that not only security, but comfortable 
rest and refreshing sleep have been my 
portion. How great is tl^j kindness to 
the children of men ! How amazing 
thy goodness! Bless the I^ord, O my 
soul, and let ail that is within me bless 
his holy name. May I never forget thy 
mercies, which are renewed every 
morning. I thus thank and adore 
Thee, as the former and preserver of my 
mortal body. But I would, in the most 
exalted strains of devotion, praise Thee, 



189 

as the Father of spirits, and the author 
of all my intellectual powers and fa- 
culties. Accept my most profound and 
thankful acknowledgments for the 
light of reason, and the injunctions of 
conscience, whereby I am in some mea- 
sure informed of thy glorious perfec- 
tions, and of the services which Thou 
hast enjoined, to make me happy both 
here and hereafter. But especially, 
and above all, I desire to praise Thee 
with the warmest gratitude, for the 
unspeakable gift of thy Son Jesus 
Christ our Lord, for the clear manner 
in which my duty is made known in his 
gospel, and for the many divine and 
powerful motives by which the prac- 
tice of it is enforced. At the same time 
I praise and bless Thee, for the institu- 
tion of religious ordinances, and for 
the setting apart one day in seven, that 
I may withdraw my thoughts from the 
business, the cares and the amusements 
of life. May this sacred time be always 
employed by me to the best of purposes. 
May I devoutly converse with Thee, my 
Almighty Creator and Supreme Gov- 
ernor, in the offices of prayer and de- 
votion. Teach me to know thy will, to 
become acquainted with the rules and 
measures of my duty, and thus make 
me wise unto eternal salvation. In- 
struct me how to meditate on thy per- 
fections with unfeigned devotion, and 



190 DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 

sincere fervour of affection. By this 
means may I contract a veneration 
and love for thy matchless attributes, 
until the strongest and purest desires 
are excited in my soul, and I am urged 
on to acquire as near a resemblance to 
Thee in thy most glorious perfections, 
as a frail creature can attain. 

O Lord, I lament with the deepest 
contrition of soul, the little progress I 
have made in acquiring this divine 
temper. How negligent have I been 
in thy service ! How cold and languid 
my devotions! How often in my im- 
mediate addresses to Thee, the heart 
searching God, have my thoughts wan- 
dered, and my devotions been careless- 
ly performed I My afiections have been 
withdrawn from Thee, the centre of 
every thing amiable, glorious and su- 
premely excellent, and have been fixed 
on the mean, ignoble objects of time 
and sense. I confess this with shame 
and the sincerest sorrow of heart, and 
would humble myself before Thee for 
such languor and carelessness. At the 
same time I acknowledge I have been 
guilty of many iniquities. I have sin- 
ned against clear light, and the best 
instructions and resolutions. I have 
offended in thought, in word and in 
deed. I have transgressed thy laws, 
which are the laws of reason, and the 
only sure means of conducting me to 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 191 

happiness. Gracious and compassion- 
ate God, blushing and confusion of 
face must cover me ; remorse and con- 
trition must till my breast, on account 
of my rebellion, my ingratitude and 
niy aggravated and lienious transgres- 
sions. All I can plead before Thee is 
mercy. In that, all my hopes and ex- 
pectations centre. Adored be thy for- 
giving love in Jesus Christ thy Son, 
who is the Way, the Truth and the 
jLife, and through whom sinful, peni- 
tent mortals may approach Thee and 
find acceptance. I come in his name, 
in thine own appointed way, resolving 
to comply with the terms of the gospel 
covenants. Give me light sufficient to 
instruct me, and strength sufficient to 
enable me to put my good resolutions 
into practice. O Thou Father of all 
mercy, Thou God of ail grace, forgive 
all my sins, and grant me all that as- 
sistance which shall be requisite for 
me in every situation. 

May I be watchful over myself, and 
guard against a careless or a sensual 
temper. May I be mortified to the 
world and its enjoyments, and possess 
true Christian moderation. May the 
devotions I shall engage in, and the 
instructions I shall receive this day, 
prove effectual to this good purpose. 
May my mind be enlightened by hear- 
ing divine truths ; and my soul eleva- 



19$ DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY MORNING. 

ted by prayer and praise. May the de- 
votions of tlie gospel be so strongly im- 
pressed upon my heart, as to enable me 
effectually to oppose every temptation, 
and to triumph over all my spiritual 
enemies. May I wean myself more 
and more from time and sense ; and 
show that I am a ehild of God and 
born from above, by having my con- 
versation in heaven, even while I live 
in the present world. Suffer no trial 
to await me in which my good disposi- 
tions shall be overcome or weakened ; 
but when virtue shall be at any time 
ready to give way before more power- 
ful tempations, do Thou who has ac- 
cess to the human heart, pour such light 
and strength into my soul, as shall ex- 
cite proper considerations within me, 
and shall restore me to my true self; to 
the influence and direction of con- 
science, and religion. May the govern- 
ing principles of my life be faith in 
Christ, and unfeigned, unreserved obe- 
dience and submission to Thee my 
Heavenly Father. Enable me contin- 
ually to be making a progress in holi- 
ness and to aim at its highest at- 
tainments. 

With respect to my worldly situation, 
I know not what is best. All I ask is to 
be placed in such a state as shall most 
effectually tend to improve me in divine 
knowledge and Christian virtue. To 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 19'$- 

this end may I ever regard the present 
life in its true light, as designed to train 
me up for another and a better world ; 
towards which the nearer I advance, 
the more prepared may I become. 
However things are ordered as to my 
worldly condition, make me wholly 
resigned to thy disposing wilt, and 
fully convinced of the wisdom, proprie- 
ty and kindness of all thy dealings. Lift 
up the light of thy reconciled counte- 
nance upon me, in my passage through 
this transitory state. Fill me with all 
that joy of heart which ariseth from 
the testimony of a good conscience, and 
the enlivening expectation of the hea- 
venly happiness. Fit me for every sit- 
uation in life, and, above all, prepare 
me for death. When that last scene 
shall approach, enable me to place a 
firm trust in thy mercy as displayed in 
the gospel. May my dismission hence, 
be full of Christian hope and joyful 
confidence, and after death, be Thou 
the eternal consolation of my soul. 

O Thou universal Parent of nature, 
favour the whole world with the same 
spiritual privileges which I enjoy. 
May the kingdom of the Redeemer 
soon come. May his name be glo- 
rified, and his religion be spread 
throughout the earth. Bless in a par- 
ticular manner the nation to which I 
belong. May each one contribute his 

13 



194 MORNlNa DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAV, 

part to help forward a general refor- 
mation* 

May all my friends and relations be 
blessed by Thee, and be the friends of 
God and the promoters of virtue and 
true religion. O God reward nil my 
benefaetors and forgive all my enemies. 
Condescend to be favourably present 
in all worshipping assemblies this day. 
Make good thine ancient promise % 
that wheresoever two or three are met 
together in thy name, there Tliou wilt 
be with them, and bless them. May a 
divine energy and blessing accompany 
me, and all with whom I shall this day 
join in ordinances of a religious na- 
ture. May these imperfect services here 
below, fit me in the best manner for 
bearing a part in the exalted praises 
of angels above, and for eternally re- 
siding in thy blissful presence, wlio art 
the everlasting light of all thy saints. 
These devout thanksgivings and hum- 
ble petitions I sincerely offer unto Thee, 
the Source of all perfection and the 
Fountain of all good, in the name and 
as the disciple of thy Son, Jesus Christ x 
to whom be glory in the churches, 
world without end.— Amen. 



EVENINGS DEVOTIONS FOR THE IBRD's DAT. I9£ 

Evening devotions for the Z<ord 9 s day. 

HYMN. 11. L. M.— Brewer. 

1 GREATGod, to Thee my e veiling sons? 
With humble gratitude, I raise ; 

let thy mercy tune my tongue, 
And fill my heart with lively praise* 

2 Mercy, that rich unbounded store, 
Does my unnumbered wants relieve ; 
Among the daily craving* poor, 

On thy all-bounteous hand I live* 

3 My days unclouded as they pass, 
And ev'ry gentle rolling hour, 

Are monuments of wond'rous grace, 
And witness to thy love and pow'r. 

4 [Thy love and po w'r, celestial guard, 
Preserve me from surrounding harms 
Can danger reach me, while the I^ord 
Extends his kind protecting arms ?] 

5 Seal my forgiveness in the blood 
Of Jesus ; — his dear name alone 

1 plead for pardon, Gracious God, 
And kind acceptance at thy throne* 

6 let this blest hope mine eyelids close x 
With sleep refresh my feeble frame ; 
Safe in thy care may I repose, 

And wake with praises to thy name* 

Most merciful and ever blessed God, 
Thou art the Sovereign Lord of heaven 
and earth. From Thee I receive all 
my present enjoyments $ and in Thee 



every hope of happiness in another and 
better world doth entirely centre. 

I adore Thee as the first cause, and 
the last end of all thing's ; as that al- 
mighty, ever living and Supreme God, 
before whom angels and arch- angels 
bow down and prostrate themselves 
with the profoundest veneration. 
Thousands of gloriHed spirits sur- 
round thy throne, ten thousand times 
ten thousand minister in thy presence, 
and think it their greatest felicity to 
contemplate thy attributes, and to en- 
joy the smiles of thy favour. 

Blessed, thrice happy are these thy 
servants, who thus dwell in thy hea- 
venly temple, who see thy face with- 
out a veil, and keep an everlasting 
sabbath in celebrating thy perfections, 
and praising Thee in the most exalted 
strains of gratitude and love. 

Blessed also, in a lower degree, are 
thy servants, who approach Thee in 
thine earthly courts, to see the milder 
displays of thy glory, and taste thy 
mercy and grace. 

Thanks to thy great and glorious 
name, for the frequent opportunities 
which I have had of enjoying this sa- 
cred privilege. Particularly I bless 
Thee for that opportunity -which hath 
been afforded me this day. May I have 
reason to say that it hath been good for 
me to draw nigh unto God in his house 



197 

of prayer. May I feel the happy effects 
of it in those pious and devout senti- 
ments which it shall lead me to cherish, 
in those holy resolutions which it shall 
engage me to form, and in those virtues 
and upright actions which it shall en- 
able me continually to practice. 

I thank Thee for the ordinances of 
religion, which Thou hast heen pleased 
to institute; for the directions which 
thy holy word contains; and for the 
instructions which it affords; which 
are in the best manner calculated to 
make me wise unto eternal salvation. 

When I reflect on all these advan- 
tages, and consider my own base in- 
gratitude, and tl^e little improvement 
I have made of all these favours, my 
soul is filled with grief and sorrow. 
I stand in continual need of mercy to 
overlook my numerous failings, and to 
pardon my repeated offences. I have 
sometimes sinned through ignorance : 
I have more frequently transgressed 
through carelessness and inattention. 
If at any time I have offended through 
presumption, most gracious Crod, I en- 
treat Thee, for thy mercy's sake in 
Jesus Christ, to overlook and pardon 
these, and all my other iniquities. 

Lead me to have a just sense fixed in 
my mind of the odious nature and de- 
structive tendency of all sin. Convince 
me, in the most powerful and effectual 



198 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd'd DAT. 

manner, that nothing can tend to se- 
cure my true happiness either here or 
hereafter, hitt the sincere practice of 
holiness and virtue. 

As Thou hast instituted the ordinan- 
ces of religion to he the means of im- 
pressing this truth on my soul 9 grant, O 
Heavenly Father, that I may make 
them subservient to this good purpose. 

If a just sense of the odious nature of 
sin, hath been excited in my mind by 
any of the exercises of devotion in 
which I have this day engaged, enable 
me to cherish and strengthen this prin- 
ciple more and more* May I hate sin 
with a more perfect hatred, than I 
have hitherto done, and love and pur- 
sue holiness and religion with greater 
fervency and affection of soul. 

I acknowledge, O Thou most com- 
passionate of all beings, that I have not 
made so good a use of my faculties for 
obeying and serving Thee, as I might 
and ought to have made. My attention 
hath been too often fixed on the trifling 
vanities and amusements of this world, 
to the neglect of those awful and im- 
portant concerns which relate to my 
heavenly and eternal state. I confess, 
that often when I have heen present in 
thine house, and joining, as to the out- 
ward part, in worshipping Thee, the 
Supreme Ruler of the universe, my 
heart and my affections have been 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD S DAT. 199 

wandering- after earthly pursuits, and 
I have paid that regard to the creature, 
which is alone due to Thee, the Al- 
mighty Creator and Sovereign Lord 
of all. 

Adored be thy goodness and mercy, 
that Thou art ever disposed to pardon 
penitent returning sinners; and for 
this end hast appointed an advocate in 
heaven, Jesus Christ the righteous, who 
is become a propitiation for all the 
errors and imperfections which are 
repented of and forsaken. 

For thy mercy's sake in him, I most 
humbly entreat Thee to pardon all the 
sins I have been guilty of in my past 
life, U> forgive all the negligence and 
inattention I have shown in thy wor- 
ship, and to accept those of my services, 
however imperfect, which have been 
attended with sincerity and upright- 
ness of heart. 

May I ever value it as my greatest 
privilege that I can so often join in 
solemn addresses to Thee, and grate- 
fully acknowledge thy goodness and 
mercy, in concert with those who are 
blessed and supplied by the same bounty 
and munificence. May such impres- 
sions be by this means made on my 
mind as shall engage me to cherish the 
most grateful, pure and benevolent af- 
fections. By often meditating on thy 
divine glories, may I be induced to love 



soo 

Thee with my whole heart, to serve 
Thee with the greatest sincerity of soul, 
and to acquire some resemblance to 
Thee, the infinite source of all perfec- 
tion and happiness. May I never be- 
come carnal and sensual by my con- 
verse with earthly things 5 but may I, 
by frequent acts of piety and devotion, 
raise my affections to unseen things, 
and live a heavenly life even while I 
am on earth. May I guard myself from 
the snares, and escape the corruptions 
which are in the world through lust ; 
and by this means become in some mea- 
sure partaker of a divine nature. May 
I ever consider this life a pilgrimage, as 
vain, troublesome, and uncertain. May 
I al w ays look upon heaven as my settled 
abode and lasting home, and regard 
my true life as hid with Christ in Ood 5 
that when Christ, who is my life shall 
appear, I also may appear with him in 
glory. Enable me ever to possess a true 
government over all my inferior appe- 
tites and passions. Suffer me never to 
give way to vicious pursuits or sensual 
indulgences. May a due sense of thine 
awful presence and inspection ever ac- 
company me. In the most secret retire- 
ment, as well as in public, may I con- 
sider myself as under thine eye, and 
accountable to thee for all my thoughts, 
words, and actions. Under the influ- 
ence of this persuasion may I maintain 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 201 

purity in my heart, sincerity and truth 
in all my words, and holiness in all my 
conduct. May I ever do to others as I 
would they should do unto me; thus 
in ay I fulfil all righteousness. 

From beholding thy goodness and 
mercy so conspicuously and glorious- 
ly displayed in the works of creation, 
and especially in the work of redemp- 
tion, may I be induced to cherish a be- 
nevolent and a merciful temper. May 
I do good to all as I have opportunity. 
May I ever cherish that meekness and 
humility which shone so illustrious in 
my divine Saviour, and be always more 
ready to forgive than to revenge any 
injury or affront. Keep far from me 
all pride and haughtiness, all anger 
and malice. Enable me ever to act the 
worthy, generous, Christian part, in 
relieving the necessitous as far as my 
abilities extend, and in aiding my fel- 
low creatures by my advice, my in- 
fluence and my earnest endeavours; 
that the blessing of the poor and afflict- 
ed may come upon me, and that I may 
in some measures resemble Thee, the 
Ood of all mercy and the universal Pa- 
rent of all good. 

Fit me for all the various changes 
which in the course of thy providence 
I may be called to pass through in this 
frail uncertain state. Make me ever 
contented with the whole of my situa- 



202 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 

tion, knowing that all thine appoint- 
nients are wise and good. Dispose me 
ever to be thankful for the mereies 1 
enjoy ; even the most afflictive circum- 
stances, and to eye a divine and father- 
ly hand in all thy dealings. By this 
means, prepare me for every occur- 
rence in life, that whether prosperity 
or adversity be my lot, I may possess 
those graces, and acquire those virtues 
which shall adorn each situation, and 
which shall enable me to discharge the 
duty required of me. I know my own 
insufficiency for these things ; I am con- 
scious of my own weakness and frailty. 
I have in time past heen frequently 
overcome by temptations, even contrary 
to my own good resolutions. Ho Thou, 
therefore, the Father of spirits, grant 
me the assistance of thine own Divine 
Spirit, that I may be enabled by thy 
strength to perform all these things in 
a right and acceptable manner. Make 
all my public religious exercises, and 
all my private devotions and secret 
meditations, greatly beneficial to this 
good purpose. Especially may this 
present humble address to the throne 
of thy grace ; and the pious acknow- 
ledgments I have this day joined in 
offering Thee, be serviceable to this end. 
When I return to my worldly con- 
cerns and stated employment in the 
ensuing week, may it appear by the 



203 

whole of my behaviour in them, and 
the whole of my behaviour in future 
life, that I have really this day been 
conversing with God. May this day's 
retirement from the cares of the world 
be reflected on with pleasure through 
the whole of my continuance here. 
May it even prove a never-failing" 
source of joy and delight when days 
and weeks shall be at an end, and the 
uninterrupted enjoyment of Thee, the 
everlasting source of perfection and 
happiness, shall be the reward of my 
labours. 

O Thou sovereign Lord of the uni- 
verse, hear the prayers which have this 
day been presented unto Thee for those 
parts of the world which lie buried in 
darkness and ignorance. Give thy Son 
the heathen for his inheritance, and 
the uttermost part of the earth for his 
possession. Be favourably mindful of 
my native land, and of all that are 
connected with it. 

May we improve the mercies we en- 
joy and be long continued to be that 
happy people, whose protection and 
defence is ever nigh at hand, the living 
Ijord of heaven and earth. May those 
who are connected with me in the 
bonds af nature and friendship, be re- 
lated to thee in the bonds of an ever- 
lasting covenant, well ordered in all 
things and sure. May those from 



204 EVENING DEVOTTONS FOR THE LORd's DAY. 

whom I have received favours, be 
abundantly blessed and rewarded by 
Thee. May all those who wish me ill, 
if any such there be, obtain the same 
forgiveness from €*od which I hope 
and expect to obtain. Bless the family 
to which I stand related. May every 
member of it be a living member of 
Jesus Christ. 

May the return of every such sacred 
opportunity as I have this day enjoy- 
ed, be embraced by me with the great- 
est readiness, and improved to the most 
valuable of all purposes, the helping 
forward my preparation for heaven 
and eternal happiness. May I make 
all the events which befai me in life, 
conducive to the same important ei^A f 
that my meetness for future glory may 
be continually increasing the longer I 
remain here below. 

With such holy thoughts and devout 
dispositions, I would lay myself down 
to receive the refreshment of sleep dur- 
ing the ensuing night, committing my- 
self, and all for whom I am concerned 
to thine almighty protection and care. 
O thou Guardian of Israel, who nei- 
ther slumberest nor steepest, keep far 
from this dwelling, and from all who 
reside in it, all dangers and terrors 
during the silent and defenceless hours 
of rest, and cause us all to awake in 
the morning in health and strength, 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 205 

refreshed with the comfortable repose 
of this night, and qualified to engage 
in those duties which may lie before 
each of us on the ensuing day* 

This, my evening sacrifice of prayer 
and praise, I offer to Thee, the supreme 
Lord of heaven and earth, in the name 
of thy well beloved Son, Jesus Christ, 
through whom I would ascribe unto 
Thee, as is most justly due, the king- 
dom, the power, and the glory, for ever 
and ever. — Amen. 



Devotions for Jflonday morning* 

HYMN 12. L. M.— JSTewry. 

1 AWAKE my soul, and with the sun 
Thy daily course of duty run ; 
Shake off dull sloth and early rise 
To pay thy morning sacrifice. 

2 Redeem thy mispent time that's past ; 
liive this day, as if 'twere thy last : 
To improve thy talents take good care 
'Gainst the great day thyself prepare. 

3 I«et all thy converse be sincere, 
Thy conscience as the noonday clear s 
Think how the all-seeing God, thy 

ways 
And all thy secret thoughts surveys. 

4 Wake and lift up thyself, my heart, 
And with the angels bear thy part ; 
Who all night long unwearied sing* 
Glory to thee, eternal King. 



$00 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 

5 I wake, I wake, ye heavenly choir s 
May your devotions me inspire ; 
That I like you my age may spend, 
Like you may on my God attend. 

6 May I like you, in God delight, 
Have all day long my God in sight i 
Perform like you my Maker's will ; 

! may I never more do ill. 

7 Glory to Thee, who safe has kept, 
And hast refreshed me while I slept : 
Grant, Lord, when I from death 

shall wake, 

1 may of endless life partake. 

8 Lord, I my vows to thee renew : 
Scatter my sins as morning dew % 
Guard my first spring of thought and 

will, 
And with thyself my spirit fill. 

9 Direct, controul, suggest this day, 
All I design, or do or say, [might, 
That all my powers, with all their 
In thy sole glory may unite. 

lO Praise God from whom all blessings 
flow, 
Praise him all creatures here below; 
Praise him above, ye angelic host; 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

O most great, most gracious, and 
most glorious God ! The Almighty 
Maker and all- wise Governor of the 
universe ! The Father, the Friend and 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 207 

Saviour of mankind ! All possible ex- 
cellence is centered in Thee ; nil real 
and substantial good streams forth 
from Thee s and under a lively sense of 
thine adorable perfections, thine in- 
exhaustible fulness, and unlimited 
bounty, would I this morning come 
before Thee to offer Thee the tributes 
of praise and thanksgiving*, and to 
present my prayers and supplications 
at the throne of thy grace. 

Adored be that power and goodness, 
which at first produced me into being, 
and whereby I have been constantly 
supported and liberally supplied with 
all things needful to my comfortable 
subsistence in this present state. I 
thank Thee particularly for the safety 
and repose of the last night ; that I then 
laid me down and slept, and have 
awoke this morning in health and 
peace, because thou hast sustained me. 
Thus far, O Thou Preserver of men, 
hast Thou been pleased to spare my 
forfeited life ; and numberless as my 
sins and provocations against Thee 
have been, Thou art still folio wing me 
with thy mercies and favours. O let 
me not despise the riches of thy good- 
ness, and forbearance, and long suffer- 
ing, or forget that it is the design of all 
to lead me to repentance. 

Blessed be thy name for ttke encour- 
agement thou hast given me to repent 



208 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 

of my sins, by the kind assurances of 
thy readiness to pardon and accept of 
all who are truly penitent. Blessed he 
thy name, that, unworthy as I am of 
the common bounties of thy providence, 
thou hast freely offered to my accept- 
ance, a share in the far richer treasures 
of thy grace. Never can I enough ad- 
mire that unexampled love which thou 
hast manifested towards us, apostate 
creatures, in sending thy only begotten 
Son into the world, that we might live 
through him : that we might be formed 
to a life of holiness here, by the influ- 
ence of his word and spirit, and raised, 
at length, by his mighty power, to a 
life of eternal glory and felicity in an- 
other and a better world. O suiter me 
not to neglect that great salvation 
which he has brought within my 
reach ; but make me duly solicitous to 
secure an interest in it, by such a lively 
faith in him, as shall effectually engage 
me to devote myself to him in all the 
ways of holy obedience. 

Help me, O God, to live under a con- 
stant sense of my absolute and entire 
dependence upon Thee, as well as of 
my unspeakable obligations to Thee; 
and impart to me those powerful influ- 
ences of thy grace, which are necessa- 
ry to enable me to mortify my sinful 
inclinations, to bear afflictions as I 
ought, to make a right use of every 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. $09 

mercy and enjoyment, and to discharge 
the various duties of life in a holy and 
acceptable manner. And whatever 
portion of time thou mayest allot me 
on earth, enable me to redeem it from 
vanity and sin ; and to employ it so as 
may turn to the best account, not only 
in the life that now is, but in that also 
which is to come. May I be making 
daily advances in all wisdom, right- 
eousness, and goodness, in piety and 
purity, in humility and meekness, in 
contentment and heavenly-minded- 
ness. Let me not be anxiously careful 
about the things of this life ; what I 
shall eat, or what I shall drink, or 
wherewithal I shall be clothed; but 
let me seek, in the first place, the bless- 
ings of thy kingdom, and the right- 
eousness which thou requirest, as the 
necessary qualification for the enjoy- 
ment of them ; depending upon thy 
promise, that all these things — so far 
as they are needful, shall then be added 
to me. 

Keep me this day in innocence, and 
in love to Thee, and to all about me. 
In all my ways let me acknowledge 
Thee, and do thou direct my paths. 
Teach me to guide my affairs with dis- 
cretion ; and in every respect to act in a 
manner suitable to the station wherein 
thy providence has placed me, and to 
the general relations which I sustain. 

14 



210 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 

Bless the family to which I belong- s 
and all my dear relatives and friends, 
whether near or at a distance. May 

we fee all interested in thy peculiar fa- 
vour and friendship ; faithful in our 
duty to Thee here on earth, and happy 
in the enjoyment of Thee hereafter in 
heaven. All which, and whatever else 
thou seest needful and proper for me, 
for them, and for all mankind, I hum- 
bly entreat, for thy goodness' sake in 
and through Christ Jesus thy Son, who 
has taught us to address Thee, under 
the endearing character of " Our Fa- 
ther who art in heaven, 59 &c. 



Devotions for Jllonday evening. 

HYMN 13/ L. M. —Evening Hymn. * 
1. 

GLORY to Thee, my God, this night, 
For all the blessings of the light : 
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings, 
Under the shadow of thy wings. 

2. 
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son, 
The ills that I this day have done ; 
That with the world, myself, and Thee, 
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be. 

3. 
Teach me to live, that I may dread 
The grave as little as my bed % 
Teach me to die, that so I may 
Triumphing rise at the last day. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 211 

4. 
O may my soul on Thee repose, [close : 
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids 
Sleep, that may me more vigorous 

make, 
To serve my God. when I awake. 

5. 
When in the night I sleepless lie, [ply : 
My soul with heavenly thoughts sup- 
JLet no ill dreams disturb my rest, 
IVo powers of darkness me molest. 

6, 
Let my blest Guardian, while I sleep, 
His watchful station near me keep, 
My heart with love celestial fill, 
And guard me from the approach of ill* 

7. 
May he celestial joys rehearse, 
And thought to thought with me con- 
verse, 
Or, in my stead, all the night long, 
Sing to my God a grateful song. 

8. 
Lord let my soul forever share, 
The bliss of thy paternal care ; 
'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above, 
To see thy face, to sing thy love. 

9. 
O when shall I, in endless day, 
For ever chase dark sleep away, 
And hymns divine with angels sing, 
Glory to Thee, eternal King. 



212 DETOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 

10. 

Praise Ood, from whom all blessings 

flow, 
Praise him, all creatures here below. 
Praise him above, ye angelic host x 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ohost. 

Lord, my Ood, Thou art ever mer- 
ciful and gracious. Thou causest the 
outgoings of the morning and of the 
evening, to rejoice over me. I desire, 
at this time, with a grateful sense of 
the numberless favours Thou hast con- 
ferred upon me, and art continually 
renewing, day by day, to offer Thee my 
evening sacrifice of prayer and thanks- 
giving. I<et the words of my mouth, 
and the meditations of my heart, be 
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my 
strength and Redeemer. 

1 adore Thee as the author of my life 
and being ; as the former of my body, 
and the Father of my spirit. I bless 
Thee, that Thou hast made me a rea- 
sonable creature, hast designed me for 
immortality, and hast placed me here 
in a state of discipline, in order to train 
me up by a variety of exercises and 
trials, experiences and improvements, 
for the business and blessedness of ano- 
ther and a better state. 

And though I have in many instances 
acted in a manner unbecoming the 
dignity of my rational nature, and 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 213 

been far from answering, as I ought, 
the great ends of my creation ; yet, 
blessed be thy name, Thou hast not 
dealt with me according to my deserts, 
but continually, hitherto, hast Thou 
upheld my soul in life ; and thy visita- 
tion hath preserved my spirit. I thank 
Thee, O Lord, for the watchful care 
and kind supplies of thy providence, 
for my health and strength, for my 
food and raiment, for my relatives and 
friends, and all my social advantages 
and enjoyments. 

But more especially would I praise 
Thee for the advantages and oppor- 
tunities Thou hast afforded me, for im- 
proving in the knowledge and prac- 
tice of true religion ; for obtaining the 
pardon of my sins, and an interest in 
thy forfeited favour, through the me- 
diation of thy Son ; and for securing a 
title to that glorious inheritance, to 
the lively hope of which Thou hast be- 
gotten us again, by his Resurrection 
from the dead : — an inheritance incor- 
ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth 
not away, reserved in heaven for those 
who are kept by the power of God, 
through faith, unto salvation. Suffer 
me not, I beseech thee, to receive thy 
grace in vain ; but teach me so highly 
to value, and so diligently to improve 
all my present privileges and advanta- 
ges, as that I may be prepared and 



214 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 

qualified for those still greater bless- 
ings, which Thou wilt hereafter bestow 
on the an that love and serve Thee. 

Forgive ine, O Thou Father of mer- 
cies, that I have hitherto made Thee 
such unsuitable returns for thy great 
love and goodness; that I have lived 
so much a stranger to Thee ; that I 
have loved Thee no more, and served 
Thee no better ; that I have been so 
negligent in the discharge of my social 
and relative duties, and so careless, 
even about my own highest concerns, 
my spiritual and everlasting interests. 
Pardon ail tlie innumerable transgres- 
sions and provocations of my past life ; 
and particularly whatever Thou hast 
seen amiss in my temper or conduct 
this day. Give me that godly sorrow 
for sin which worketh repentance un- 
to salvation, needing not to be repent- 
ed of; and enable me to act a wiser 
and a better part in all respects for the 
time to come. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
and renew a right spirit within me. 
And hy the eHicacy of the exceeding 
great and precious promises of thy 
word, and the influences of thy bless- 
ed Spirit, may I not only escape the 
corruptions that are in the world, 
through lust, but be transformed into 
the image of thy moral perfections, 
and become a partaker of a divine na- 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 215 

ture. For this purpose let me give all 
possible diligence to §idd to my faith 
fortitude, and to fortitude prudence, 
and to prudence temperance, and to 
temperance patience, and to patience 
godliness, and to godliness brotherly 
kindness, and to brotherly kindness 
universal charity, that so these things 
being in me, and abounding, I may be 
neither inactive nor unfruitful in the 
knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord. 
Thus let me make my calling and elec- 
tion to the privileges and hopes of the 
gospel, sure and steadfast ; as knowing 
that if I do these things I shall never 
fall, but that an entrance shall be ad- 
ministered unto me abundantly into 
the everlasting kingdom of my dear 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Make me particularly mindful of the 
duties I owe to those with whom I am 
especially connected by the ties of rela- 
tion or friendship, and help me to take 
the most prudent and eifectuai means 
to promote their comfort and welfare. 
I would commend them as well as my- 
self, to thy blessing and favour. IMrect 
us, O Lord, by thine unerring wisdom 5 
defend us hj thine almighty power and 
provide for us hj thy never-failing 
goodness, through the various scenes 
and changes of this transitory state : 
be our support and comfort in the aw- 
ful hour of death, and our everlasting 



210 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY EVENING. 

portion and happiness beyond tbe 
grave. 

I would likewise, O most merciful 
God, recommend to thy gracious re- 
gard, the whole world of mankind. 
Pity their follies and infirmities ; deli- 
ver them from their sins, and from all 
those evils that are the fruits of sin. Be 
favourably mindful of my native land, 
and of all that are connected with it. 
Preserve our rights and liberties, both 
civil and sacred ; and let truth, righte- 
ousness, and peace, flourish and prevail 
amongst us. May our magistrates, su- 
preme and subordinate, rule in thy 
fear, and be the ministers of God unto 
us for good. Have mercy on the sick 
and afflicted, provide for the poor and 
ikeeAy^ and do good unto all as their va- 
rious cases and necessities may require. 

As Thou hast brought me to the close 
of this day in safety, so I beg the con- 
tinuance of thy care and protection 
this night. Watch over me, O Thou 
Preserver of men, in my defenceless 
moments, and, after quiet and refresh- 
ing sleep, raise me up in the morning, 
fitted for the duties and events of an- 
other day. And when this succession 
of days and nights shall be no more, 
receive me into that state, where I shall 
serve Thee without intermission, and 
yet without weariness, through a long, 
happy and endless day. 



DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 217 

Wow unto the King: eternal, immor- 
tal, invisible, the only wise God, be 
honour and glory, forever and ever. — 
Amen. 



Devotions for Tuesday morning* 

HYMN 14. L. M.— JWw Sabbath. 

1 ARISE, my soul ! with rapture rise ! 
And, fill'd with love and fear, adore, 
The awful Sovereign of the skies, 
Whose merey lends me oike day more. 

2 And may this day, indulgent Power! 
Not idly pass, nor fruitless be ; 

But may eaeh swiftly flying hour 
Still nearer bring my soul to Thee. 

3 But can it be ? that power divine 

Is thron'd in light's unbounded blaze ; 
And countless worlds and angels join 
To swell the glorious song of praise : 

4 And will he deign to lend an ear, 
When I, poor abject mortal, pray? 
Yes, boundless goodness ! he will hear, 
Nor cast the meanest wretch away. 

5 Then let me serve Thee all my days, 
And may my zeal with years increase ; 
For pleasant, Lord, are all thy ways. 
And all thy paths are paths of peace. 

Almighty and most merciful Father! 
Thou art the great parent of the uni- 
verse, and the supreme Lord of all, by 
whom all things were created at first, 



218 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 

and are continually supported and 
governed. I adore the glorious perfec- 
tions of thy nature, tlie boundless pow- 
er, wisdom and goodness which f lion 
liast displayed in all Thy works, and 
most gratefully acknowledge tlie libe- 
ral communications of thy bounty and 
beneficence to me, who am unworthy 
of the least of thy mercies. I bless Thee 
for every instance of thy kindness and 
favour that I have experienced through 
all my past life, and particularly for 
the "watchful care of thy good provi- 
dence, by which I have been secured 
from the dangers of the last night, and 
brought to see the light of another 
day, in peace and comfort. 

Thy mercies, O Lord, are new unto 
me every morning ; great is thy faith- 
fulness ! And hence it is that I am not 
consumed, even because thy compas- 
sions fail not. Shouldst Thou have 
dealt with me according to the num- 
ber and weight of my transgressions, I 
should have long since been stripped 
of all my forfeited enjoyments, and 
have been wretched indeed beyond all 
conception, and beyond all hope of be- 
ing restored to thy favour. 

But blessed be thy name, I am still 
continued in the land of the living, a 
monument of thy patience and for- 
bearance % furnished with a variety of 
good things relating to the life that 



DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 219 

now is, and encouraged to hope for far 
better blessings in the life to come, 
through thy wonderful love and grace 
manifested to a sinful world, by thy 
Son Jesus Christ. With admiration 
and gratitude would 1 contemplate the 
wise and gracious method thou hast 
contrived for recovering lost sinners to 
thyself, by the teaching and example, 
the sufferings and death, the resurrec- 
tion and ascension of this our once 
abased, but now glorified Redeemer ; 
who is able to save even to the utter- 
most, all that come unto Thee by him ; 
seeing that he ever lives to make inter- 
cession for us. 

Grant me, O most merciful God, an 
interest in the benefits of his mediato- 
rial undertaking* Help me to seek 
and secure the blessings of pardon, 
peace and eternal life, by a cheerful 
compliance with those terms of repent- 
ance, faith and new obedience, on 
which they are offered to my accept- 
ance. Enable me rightly to value and 
carefully to improve all my present 
privileges and all my future prospects 
as becometh a Christian. And by that 
grace of thine, which bringeth salva- 
tion to men, teach me to deny all un- 
godliness and worldly lusts, and live 
soberly, righteously and piously in this 
present world : looking for that blessed 
hope, even the glorious appearing of 



220 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY MORNING. 

the great God and our Saviour Jesus 
Christ ; who gave himself for us to re- 
deem us from all iniquity, and to puri- 
fy unto himself a peculiar people zeal- 
ous of good works* 

Being bought with a price of such 
inestimable value, O let me never live 
as if I were at my own disposal ; but 
engage me to serve and glorify Thee, 
not only with my body but with my 
spirit, which are thine. L<et me choose 
Thee, O Thou greatest and best of 
beings, as my I^ord and my God, my 
guide and my guardian, my portion 
and felicity ; and let me cheerfully re- 
sign myself to be governed, directed 
and disposed of by thine unerring wis- 
dom, and according to the good plea- 
sure of thy goodness. 

Help me this day, and every day, so 
to walk as to please Thee, and to be 
constantly improving in the divine life 
and likeness. Keep me by thy grace, 
from falling into sin, which is the 
greatest of all evils ; then may I be as- 
sured that Thou wilt preserve me from 
every thing else that might do me hurt ; 
and even cause all things to work to- 
gether for my good. Prepare me for 
the general scenes and changes that 
may lie before me in this variable and 
transitory state, and especially, for that 
great and most important change, 
which I must pass through by death. 



DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 221 

Teach me to lire always as I shall wish 
to have lived when I conie to die. At 
that awful season, put strength and 
confidence into my departing spirit; 
and after death receive me into thy 
more immediate presence, where there 
is fullness of joy ; to dwell at thy right 
hand, where there are pleasures for- 
ever more.— Amen. 



Devotions for Tuesday Evening. 

HYMN 15. L. M German Air, 

1 WHEN restless on my bed I lie, [fly, 
Still courting sleep, which still will 
Then shall reflection's brighter power 
Illume the lone and midnight hour. 

3 If hush 9 d the breeze and calm the tide, 
Soft will the stream of inem'ry glide, 
And all the past, a gentle train, 
Waked by remembrance, live again. 

3 If loud the wind, the tempest high, 
And darkness wraps the sullen sky, 
I muse on life 9 s tempestuous sea, 
And sigh, O I^ord, to come to thee. 

4 Toss 9 d on the deep and swelling wave, 
O mark my trembling soul and save ! 
Give to my view that harbour near, 
Where thou wilt chase each grief and 

fear! 

Most great and glorious God! with 
all humility and reverence, would I 



222 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 

prostrate myself before Thee, under a 
deep and affecting sense of thy majesty, 
and my own meanness ; of thy bounty, 
and my indigence ; of thy holiness, and 
my guilt. 

Without Thee, O Lord, I am nothing, 
I have nothing, and can do nothing. 
Upon Thee Ao I constantly depend for 
life, and breath, and being. I need the 
perpetual exertion of thy power for the 
continuance of my existence ; and the 
support of my faculties ; I need thy 
wisdom to direct my uncertain steps, 
thy goodness to supply my daily wants, 
thy mercy to pardon my numberless 
sins, and thy grace to assist me in the 
discharge of my duties. And I would 
rejoice that Thou art ever ready to aid 
and befriend me. 

Most gratefully must I acknowledge 
that hitherto Thou, O Lord, hast helped 
and sustained me s provided for my ne- 
cessities both of soul and body ; caused 
thy goodness daily to pass before me ; 
afforded me a plenty of the means of 
grace, and raised me, by the gospel of 
thy Son Jesus Christ, to the hopes and 
prospects of eternal glory. Bless the 
Lord, O my soul, and all that is within 
me, praise and magnify his holy name ! 
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits ; who forgiveth all 
thine iniquities, who healeth all thy 
diseases, who redeemeth thy life from 



DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 

destruction, and crowneth Thee with 
loving-kindness and tender mercies. 

What reason have I, great Crod, to 
lament that my heart has heen no more 
affected with a sense of thy goodness ; 
that I have foolishly slighted, and in 
many instances, abused thy favours ; 
and not only neglected thy service, but 
acted in direct opposition to thy holy 
nature and will ! I have neither obeyed 
nor loved Thee as I ought ; but have 
rebelled against thy sovereign authori- 
ty, and made the most unworthy re- 
turns for all the expressions of thy pa- 
ternal tenderness. 

Lord, God, gracious and merciful ! 
Pity my infirmity, and pardon my 
sins. And though I have so long, so 
often, and so ungratefully offended 
Thee, yet cast me not off from thy fa- 
vour, but effectually recover me from 
my wanderings to thyself. Help me to 
renounce and detest -whatever is dis- 
pleasing in thy sight; and with my 
whole heart, to return and cleave un- 
to Thee. And enable me, I beseech 
Thee, unfeignedly to comply with those 
merciful terms on which the blessings 
of the gospel are offered to me, that so 
I may be accepted of Thee in the be- 
loved, and blessed with all spiritual 
blessings in heavenly things and places, 
in Christ Jesus. 

1 would desire daily to be making 



224 DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 

some advances in religious knowledge* 
by reading, meditation, and a diligent 
use and improvement of all those helps 
with which I am, or may be, furnished 
for this purpose. Grant that the more 
I know of thy nature, thy will, and thy 
grace, the more I may be disposed to 
love thee, with all my heart, and soul, 
and mind, and strength ; to yield a 
cheerful compliance to thy sovereign 
w "ill, and to hope and trust to rejoice 
and delight myself in Thee. 

And whilst I am endeavouring to 
fulfil the first and great command- 
ment, by making Thee, O most glorious 
and gracious God, the object of my su- 
preme veneration and affection, sub- 
mission and confidence, suffer me not 
to forget the second, which is like unto 
it, of loving my neighbour as myself. 
I would labour to cultivate a sincere 
good will for all mankind; fervently 
wishing the happiness of every one; 
rejoicing in that tender love which 
thou exercisest towards all thy crea- 
tures, and cheerfully contributing 
whatever lies in my power to relieve 
the distresses and to promote the wel- 
fare of those that are round about me. 
Especially would I desire to be found in 
the discharge of those duties and obliga- 
tions which result from the particular 
station, circumstances, and relations 
wherein thy providence has placed me. 



DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY EVENING. 255 

Accept of my thanksgivings for the 
mercies of the day past, which thou 
hast added to the sum of all my past 
favours. Long as I live will I praise 
the Lord, and magnify thy holy name 
while I have any being. Pardon 
whatever has been amiss in my dispo- 
sition or behaviour this day % and ena- 
ble me to be more upon my guard 
against offending Thee for the time to 
come. 

And now, Lord, what wait I for? 
Truly my hope is in Thee and under 
the shadow of thy wings will I put my 
trust. Watch over me this night. Suf- 
fer not any evil thing to come nigh this 
dwelling. May I lie down in thy fear, 
be refreshed with seasonable rest and 
sleep, and arise in thy favour fitted and 
disposed for the duties of the following 
day. And grant that every day which 
thou shalt please to add to my life on 
earth, may be so spent and improved 
as to increase my fitness for the joys and 
glories of the heavenly state ; through 
the mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son, 
in whose most comprehensive words, I 
continue to pray for myself, and for all 
my brethren of mankind, as " Our Fa- 
ther," &c* 



15 



DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING* 

Devotions for Wednesday Jtlorning. 

HYMN. 16. L. M.— Litchfield. 

1 IN sleep's serene oblivion laid, 
I safely pass'd the silent night ; 
Again I see the breaking shade, 
I drink again the morning light. 

2 New born, I bless the waking hour, 
Once more with awe rejoice to be ; 
My conscious soul resumes her power. 
And springs my guardian God to 

thee I 

3 O guide me thro 9 the various maze, 
My doubtful feet are doomed to tread ; 
And spread thy shield's protecting 

v blaze 
Where dangers press around myhead* 

4 A deeper shade will soon impend, 
A deeper sleep mine eyes oppress ; 
Yet then thy strength shall still defend* 
Thy goodness still delight to bless* 

5 That deeper shade shall break away, 
That deeper sleep shall leave mine 

eyes ; 
Thy light shall give eternal day — 
Thy love the rapture of the skies I 

O Thou infinitely great and adora- 
ble Majesty of heaven and earth I 
Thou art ever present in all parts of 
thy vast dominions, and not far from 
any of thy creatures. Thou know* 
est my downsitting and mine uprising t 



DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 227 

thou understandest my thoughts afar 
otf, thou compassest niy path and my 
lying down, and art acquainted with 
all my ways. 

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit ? 
or whither shall I flee from thy pres- 
ence ? I am convinced, O Lord, that it 
is as impossible to escape the notice of 
thine eye, as it is to subsist without 
thy supporting hand, or to fee happy 
without thy favour. For even the 
darkness hideth not from Thee ; but 
the night shineth as the day : the dark- 
ness and the light are both alike to 
Thee. © that I may be therefore care- 
ful to set the Lord always before me ; 
to remember wherever I am, and what- 
ever I am about, that thou Ood seest 
me ; to live under a constant sense of 
my necessary dependence upon Thee, 
and of my numberless obligations to 
Thee ; and accordingly to seek thy fa- 
vour with iny whole heart, and to 
dread thy displeasure above all things! 

How deeply indebted am I to that 
goodness of thine which at first pro- 
duced me into being, and has hitherto 
upheld me in life, preserved me from 
perpetual dangers, seen or unseen, and 
given me so many days of comfort and 
nights of repose ! How precious are 
thy thoughts of kindness and acts of 
mercy unto me, O Ood ! Mow great is 
the sum of them ! If I attempt to count 



22S DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 

them they are more in number than the 
sand. When I awake, I am still with 
Thee; and see new occasions every 
morning to meditate on thy unwearied 
tenderness and care. But my highest 
obligations are to thy sovereign grace, 
for supplying me with the means of re- 
ligious instruction; for affording me 
the most desirable helps and advan- 
tages both for knowing and doing thy 
will ; and for setting before me the 
views and hopes of immortal life and 
happiness in the gospel of thy Son, 
Jesus Christ. Blessed be thy name for 
all thou hast done, art doing, and (if 
my sins prevent not the effects of thy 
goodness) wilt continue to do for my 
temporal, spiritual and eternal wel- 
fare. Eiord help me to fall in with thy 
gracious and merciful designs ; and let 
me not frustrate them by my own care- 
lessness, ingratitude and rebellion 
against Thee. 

Give me good Iiord, a just sight and 
sense of my unworthiness, folly and 
guilt. What I know not, teach Thou 
me ; and whereinsoever I have done 
iniquity, or acted contrary to any of 
the laws of piety, truth, charity, or so- 
briety, may I do so no more. Search 
me, O God, and know my heart; try 
me and know my thoughts ; and see if 
there be any wicked way in me ; and 
lead me in the way everlasting. 



DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY MORNING. 229 

Keep me this day, and every day, 
from sinning against Thee. JTIay I live 
in thy fear all the day long, and be al- 
ways on my guard against the many 
snares and temptations with which I 
am surrounded. Help me to keep my 
heart with all diligenee ; knowing that 
from thence are the issues of life. Let 
no vain thoughts, or corrupt imagina- 
tions, be harboured in my mind. Let 
me not give way to any unruly passions, 
or inordinate affections. Let me set a 
watch at the door of my lips, and take 
heed that I offend not with my tongue. 
Suffer me not, I beseech Thee, to fall 
into any irregularity of conduct. May 
I daily walk with Thee in a course of 
holy living, so as to approve myself in 
thy sight; and not only from a prin- 
ciple of godly fear, solicitously avoid 
whatever is offensive to thy holy ma- 
jesty, but from the nobler principle of 
love, make it my supreme delight to 
serve, and imitate, and please Thee. 

Prepare me, O Lord, for all the oc- 
currences of the day. Teach me to see 
and own thy hand in every mercy and 
enjoyment. Or if Thou sufferest any 
trouble or affliction to befal me, help 
me in a becoming manner to submit to 
thy will, believing that it is good for me 
to be afflicted, and endeavouring, by a 
wise improvement of thy chastisements, 
to become a partaker of thy holiness. 



230 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

Give me a sympathetic sense of the 
sufferings of others t and do Thou. O 
God, pity and relieve them. Mercifully 
comfort such as are cast down ; and be 
a present help to them that are in trou- 
ble. Let thy blessing* be upon every 
member of the family to which I belong. 
Assist us all in the faithful discharge of 
our respective duties, and make us 
mutual blessings to each other. Guide 
us by thy counsel through life, and af- 
terwards receive us to glory. All which 
I humbly entreat for thy mercy's sake 
in Christ Jesus; through whom I 
would ascribe to thy divine majesty, all 
honour and glory, thanksgiving and 
praise, both now and forevermore. — 
Amen. 



Devotions for Wednesday Evening* 

HYMN 17. P. M.— Evening. 

1 ERE I sleep, for every favour, 
This day show'd by my God, 
I do bless my Saviour. 

2 I^eave me not, but ever love me $ 
IiCt thy peace be my bliss, 

Till Thou hence remove me. 

3 Thou my Rock, my Guard, my Tow- 

er ; 
Safely keep, while I sleep, 
Me with all thy power. 



DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 231 

4 And whene'er in death I slumber, 
Let me rise, with the wise, 
Counted in their number. 

Or eat and gracious Ood ! Thy mer- 
cies are new unto me every morning*, 
and thy faithfulness every evening. 
Through thy good hand upon me, I am 
now brought to the close of another 
day, and would take this occasion to 
reflect with gratitude on thy great and 
undeserved goodness to me all tHe days 
of my past life; to acknowledge my 
obligations to Thee for all that I am, 
and have, and my entire dependence 
upon Thee for all that I need, and for 
all that Thou hast encouraged me to 
hope for, humbly entreating that Thou 
wilt enable me to honour and praise 
Thee, to love and serve Thee as the most 
excellent, amiable and beneficent of all 
beings, my father and friend, my Lord 
and my Ood. 

With shame and sorrow must I con- 
fess myself utterly unworthy of thy 
mercies, and lament that I have made 
Jko better improvement of them ; and 
that the Ood in whose hand my breath 
is, and whose are all my ways, I have 
not glorified as I ought. 1 would, 
grieve that I have lived so unmindful 
of Thee and of thy benefits, so forget- 
ful of my duty to Thee, and to my fel- 
low creatures, and so neglectful of my 



232 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

own highest interests. Hour much of 
my precious time have I wasted and 
mispent, in following after lying vani- 
ties ! How careless have I been of my 
temper and conduct, of the due govern- 
ment of my thoughts and affections, my 
words and actions ! And in how many 
instances have I positively offended 
Thee, acted injuriously to others, or 
done wrong to my own soul* 

Thou, O I*ord, knowest all my fool- 
ishness, and my sins are not hid from 
Thee* Give me also a just sense of their 
number, aggravations and malignity. 
Help me truly and sincerely to repent 
of them, so that I may be entitled to the 
pardon and remission of all my trans- 
gressions, through the redemption that 
is in Christ Jesus thy Son* Blessed be 
thy name that, great and grievous as 
my offences against Thee have been, 
Thou hast not left me in a helpless and 
hopeless state, but that there is mercy 
and forgiveness with Thee that Thou 
may est be feared, and that in thy right 
hand there is plenteous redemption. 

Blessed be thy name for the covenant 
of grace and peace which Thou hast 
established with us as the sinful chil- 
dren of men, in thy Son's blood ; where- 
in the promises of pardon, acceptance 
and eternal life, are made to those who 
return unto Thee in the way of repent- 
ance, faith and new obedience ; and the 



DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 233 

assistance of thy Holy Spirit is offered 
to all that ask it. O that I may be ena- 
bled so to comply with the terms of this 
covenant as to be entitled to an interest 
in its inestimable blessings ; and may I 
study to make a proper improvement 
of them by a continual progress in 
grace and holiness. 

I would desire to redeem the time 
that I have lost, by applying myself, 
with increasing diligence, to the prac- 
tice of my duty, in its whole extent. 
Make me more faithful and constant in 
thy service, and more ready to every 
good work, than I have hitherto been. 
May true wisdom and piety, justice and 
mercy, temperance and patience, hu- 
mility and meekness, adorn the whole 
remainder of my life. And whatsoever 
things are true, whatsoever things are 
venerable, whatsoever things are just, 
whatsoever things are pure, whatso- 
ever things are lovely, whatsoever 
things are of good report ; if there be 
any virtue, and if there be any praise, 
may I so think of these things as to 
make them the com stant objects of my 
pursuit and practice. 

Keep me, O Lord, steadfast to my 
covenant engagements. Help me to 
maintain my integrity, and to perse- 
vere in the practice of piety and virtue 
amidst all those temptations to evil, by 
which I may be assaulted, from within 



234 DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING. 

or from without* I*ct no worldly al- 
lurements or terrors turn me aside from 
the straight path of my duty. JLet me 
esteem the pleasures of religion and a 
good eonseienee as ineomparably supe- 
rior to all sensual pleasures, or crimi- 
nal indulgences. Suffer me not to be 
anxiously careful about any inferior 
or temporal concerns, so as to neglect 
the one thing needful, the great busi- 
ness of religion and the security of my 
immortal interests. Hut help me good 
liord. to be every day making some 
preparation for my approaching 
change, and for appearing before Thee 
with acceptance, when after death. I 
shall be called to judgment. And by a 
patient continuance in well doing, may 
I so seek for honour, glory and immor- 
tality, as in the end to obtain eternal 
life. 

Pity and reform a world that lies in 
wickedness. Direct our common and 
national concerns, so as may be most 
conducive to the public welfare. Sup- 
port, relieve, and comfort the afflicted. 
Remember all my dear relations and 
friends : make them heirs of the grace 
of life 5 partakers of thy special favour 
here, and of eternal glory in the world 
to come. 

O Thou great Shepherd of Israel, 
who never slumberest nor sleepest ! 
Take me I beseech Thee, into thy pro- 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 235 

tection this night and defend me from 
all dangers and disasters* Let me lie 
down in peaee with Thee, with my 
own conscience, and with all man- 
kind. Refresh my body with com- 
fortable rest and sleep, that in the 
morning I may be fitted and disposed 
with renewed vigour to serve Thee, 
and discharge the duties of my station. 
Be Thou my God and Guide through 
life, my support and comfort in death ; 
and after death my everlasting portion 
and felicity. 

And now unto him who is able to do 
for ine far more exceedingly than I can 
ask or think, be glory through Christ 
Jesus, world without end. — Amen. 



Devotions for Thursday Jflorning. 

HYMN 18. C. M.— St. Olives. 

1 TO Thee let my first oif 'rings rise, 

Whose sun creates the day, 
8 wift as his giadening influence flies, 
And spotless as his ray. 

2 This day thy fav'ring hand be nigh ! 

So oft vouchsafed before I 
Still may it lead, protect, supply, 
And I that hand adore. 

3 If bliss thy providence impart, 

For which resign- d I pray, 
Give me to feel the grateful heart, 
And without guilt be gay. 



236 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 

4 Affliction should thy love intend 

As vice or folly's cure, 
Patient, to gain that gracious end, 
IHay I the means endure. 

5 Be this, and ev'ry future day, 

Still wiser than the past ; 
And when I all my life survey, 
May grace sustain at last. 

O Lord God Almighty ! Thou art the 
blessed and only potentate ? the King 
of kings, and Lord of lords; the great 
Creator of heaven and earth ; the sove- 
reign Lord and proprietor of the uni- 
verse. The heavens are thine, with all 
their hosts ; the earth also is thine, with 
the fulness thereof; the world, and they 
that dwell therein. In thy hand is the 
soul of every living thing, and the 
breath of all mankind. Thy domin- 
ion is an everlasting dominion t and 
thy kingdom is from generation to gen- 
eration. Thou dost according to thy 
own will amongst the armies above, 
and amongst the inhabitants of this 
lower world ; and there is none that 
can stay thine hand, or that may say 
unto Thee, what dost Thou t 

But, blessed be thy name, this thy un- 
controllable power is constantly direct- 
ed by unerring wisdom, and exerted in 
effecting the purposes of thy boundless 
goodness. So that there is the most 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 237 

abundant reason for all thy intelligent 
creatures to rejoice that the Lord Ood 
omnipotent reigneth ; and in this joy I 
would bear my part. 

I adore Thee, O Lord, as the author 
of my being, the Ood of my life, and the 
length of my days. I acknowledge my- 
self obliged by all Thou hast done for 
me in my creation, preservation, and 
redemption, to serve Thee with fidelity 
and zeal. In thy continued care and 
kindness would I cheerfully confide 
and quietly acquiesce in thy all wise 
disposals ; being convinced of thy abso- 
lute right to rule over me, and to do 
with me as Thou pleasest; and that 
whatever Thou appointest is fittest and 
best. And accordingly to Thee, my 
heavenly Sovereign, do I this morning 
lift up my eyes, earnestly desiring to 
learn thy will, to seek thy face, and to 
obtain thy favour. 

I thank Thee, that Thou hast given 
me a law to be the rule of my life and 
conduct : that Thou hast by thy united 
lights of nature and of scripture, taught 
me what is good, and what Thou the 
Lord my Ood requirest of me ; even to 
do justly, to love mercy, and to walk 
humbly with Thee my Ood. I thank 
Thee, that as thy laws are most reason- 
able and excellent in themselves, so 
they are enforced by the most engaging 
and endearing motives ; and that Thou 



238 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING, 

hast made it as much my interest as it 
is my duty to serve Thee. 

Most deeply would I lament my guilt 
and folly in having lived so unmind- 
ful of Thee and thy laws ; in having 
despised thine authority, abused thy 
goodness, and counteracted thy gra- 
cious and benevolent intentions in my 
favour. Mercifully pardon and for- 
give whatever has been amiss in my 
past temper and conduct, and enable 
me to rectify it, hy a course of new and 
better obedience for the time to come. 
I desire to renounce all those foreign 
lords that have too long had dominion 
over me; and would now consecrate 
myself afresh to Thee ; all that I am, 
and all that I have; the members of 
my body and the faculties of my soul ; 
my worldly possessions, my time, my 
talents, and my influence over others, 
to be employed in thy service, and used 
for the advancement of thine honour 
and interest in the world. 

Yet from a sense of my own weak- 
ness, and after many lamentable 
proofs of the instability of my good re- 
solutions, I am forced to give up all self 
trust and confidence ; and would earn- 
estly seek the aids of thy grace, which 
alone is sufficient for me ; begging that 
Thou wilt manifest thy strength, in my 
weakness, ©diver me, O God, by thy 
mighty power, from the dominion and 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 239 

tyranny of every worldly and fleshly 
last; from the bondage of eorrupt 
habit*, the influence of vain customs, 
and the contagion of evil examples. 
Fix the great principles of religion 
deeply upon my heart. Fill my soul 
with good affections towards thyself; 
and towards all my fellow creatures ; 
and may the whole of my conduct be 
governed and regulated thereby. Also 
enable me so to improve all the dispen- 
sations of thy providence, the instruc- 
tions of thy word, and the influence of 
thy Spirit, as to be daily advancing 
from grace to grace, and from strength 
to strength, till I shall appear at length 
perfect before Thee in Zion. 

To Thee, O God, who hast kept me 
the night past, and caused the light of 
another morning to open with comfort 
upon me, would I again commend my- 
self, entreating the continuance of thy 
kind and favourable regard this day. 
Preserve me from the snares and dan- 
gers to which I may be exposed, and 
especially from the sins which most 
easily beset me. Quicken me to the dis- 
charge of the several duties that may 
lie before me, and prepare me for what- 
ever occurrences I may meet with, 
whether prosperous or adverse. 

Remember all my relations and 
friends, to do them good. Forgive my 
enemies, if I have any, and enable me 



240 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 

to forgive them. Pity and relieve those 
that are in distress ; and suit thy bless- 
ings to the wants, capacities, and qua- 
lifications of all thy creatures. Gra- 
ciously hear these my humble requests, 
which I offer up to Thee, in the name 
of Jesus, the Son of thy love ; to whom, 
and through whom to Thee, O heaven- 
ly Father, I would ascribe everlasting 
praises. — Amen. 



Devotions for Thursday Evening. 

HYMN 19. C. M.— Brattle- Strett. 

1 BREAD Sovereign, let my evening 
song 
Like holy incense rise ; 
Assist the offerings of my tongue 
To reach the lofty skies. 

« Through all the dangers of the day 
Thy hand was still my guard, 
And still to drive my wants away, 
Thy mercy stood prepared. 

3 Perpetual blessings from above 

Encompass me around, 
But O, how. few returns of love 
Hath my Creator found ! 

4 What have I done for him who died 

To save my wretched soul ? 
How are my follies multiplied, 
Fast as my minutes roll ! 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 241 

5 IiOrd, with this guilty heart of mine, 

To thy dear cross I flee, 
And to thy grace my soul resign, 
To be renew'd by Thee. 

6 Sprinkl'd afresh with pardoning 

blood, 
I lay me down to rest, 
As in th' embraces of my God, 
Or on my Saviour's breast. 

Holy, holy, holy E-ord God Almighty, 
who art, and wast, and art to come I 
Thou art the righteous laord, who 
lovest righteousness and hatest iniqui- 
ty. Thy countenance beholdeth the 
upright with the most favourable re- 
gard; but Thou hast no pleasure in 
wickedness, neither shall evil dwell 
with Thee. Yet, not with stand lug 
thine irreconcileable aversion to sin, 
Thou art nevertheless kind and com- 
passionate to returning sinners, slow 
to anger, and of great mercy ; not will- 
ing that any should perish, but that all 
should come to repentance. 

With shame and sorrow for the num- 
berless sins and offences of my past life, 
and particularly for what T have 
thought, or said, or done amiss this 
day, would I now humble myself before 
Thee, admiring that goodness and pa- 
tience of thine, which I have so un- 
gratefully abused; entreating an in- 

16 



242 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING, 

terest in thy forgiving- mercy, and si 
restoration to thy forfeited favour ; and 
resolving in the strength of thy grace, 
to depart from all iniquity, and to 
regulate my future temper and conduct 
in a manner more agreeable to thy 
holy nature and will. 

Enable me, O Thou great pattern of 
all moral excellence, to purify myself, 
as Thou art pure, to hate all sin with a 
perfect hatred, effectually to renounce 
and forsake every evil way, and to re- 
turn unto Thee with my whole heart. 
As Thou, who hast called me to the 
profession and privileges of true reli- 
gion, art holy, so may I be holy in all 
manner of conversation. Help me, I 
beseech Thee, to cleanse myself from 
all pollutions both of the flesh and of 
the spirit, and to perfect holiness in 
thy fear. 

Thou hast given us a perfect rule ta 
walk by ; but alas ! how exceedingly 
defective is our best obedience ! Who 
can understand his errors? Cleanse 
thou me from secret faults. And though 
I can never hope, in this "weak state of 
flesh and blood, to be free from all in- 
firmities and miscarriages, yet 9 blessed 
'JLord, keep back thy servant from pre- 
sumptuous sins : let them not have do- 
minion over me, but may I so live as to 
maintain my integrity, and to be ac- 
counted upright before Thee ; being in- 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 243 

nocent from all great and allowed 
transgressions. Give me, O God, such 
views of thy greatness and goodness 
and especially of tliy love and mercy to 
a lost world, through thy Son Jesus 
Christ, as may fill my soul with reve- 
rence and admiration ; with love and 
gratitude, with hope and confidence ; 
as may draw but my strongest desires 
after Thee, and engage me to repose 
and delight myself in Thee. Help me 
to yield an unreserved obedience to all 
thy commands, and an humble submis- 
sion to all the diposals of thy provi- 
dence. I<et me always live and act 
under a sense of thy presence, and be 
careful to keep up such a daily inter- 
course and communion with Thee as 
may tend to cherish eTery pious dispo- 
sition and affection, to fit me for nearer 
approaches to Thee, and an uninter- 
rupted enjoyment of Thee in the world 
to come. Teach me, O thou Father of 
Spirits, seriously to consider the nature 
of my own soul, and to set a suitable 
value upon it. Conscious of the dig- 
nity and importance of this immortal 
principle, let me labour and resolve to 
secure its happiness, whatever present 
gratifications are to be resigned, or 
whatever temporal sufferings are to be 
endured to that end. Help me so to 
cultivate and improve my understand- 
ing, and so to govern my affections, pas- 



244 DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 

sions, and appetites, as shall not only 
prevent nie from injuring myself or 
others, but best answer the great ends 
of my creation, and promote my noblest 
satisfaction and enjoyment. May I be 
clothed with humility and decked with 
the ornament of a meek and quiet spi- 
rit, which is in thy sight of great price. 
May I be temperate in all things, pure 
in heart and chaste in conversation; 
maintaining a fixed abhorrence of all 
prohibited sensual indulgences. May I 
learn, in whatsoever state I am, there- 
with to be content; and let patience 
have her perfect work, that I may 
be complete and entire wanting no- 
thing. 

Give me, likewise, I beseech Thee, O 
Thou lover of righteousness, peace and 
truth, a proper temper towards my fel- 
low creatures. Make me careful to 
render unto all their dues, and to pro- 
vide things honest in the sight of all 
men. May I take pleasure in doing 
every good office in my power to all 
around me, and especially to those with 
whom I am most nearly connected by 
the ties of natural relation, affinity or 
friendship. And grant that in my ge- 
neral conduct, I may act under the in- 
fluence of that wisdom which is from 
above; which is first pure, and then 
peaceable, gentle and easy to be en- 
treated, full of mercy and of good fruits, 



DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY EVENING. 245 

without partiality and without hypo- 
crisy, 

Extend thy merciful regard to the 
whole world of mankind. Send the 
light of thy glorious gospel to the most 
distant parts of the earth ; and make 
it every where effectual to enlighten 
the ignorant, to reclaim the vicious, 
and to promote the knowledge of di- 
vine truth, and the practice of univer- 
sal holiness amongst men. l>weli in 
this land of my nativity ; be Thou the 
watchful guardian of our rights and 
liberties ; reform us from the highest to 
the lowest, and delight over us still to 
do us good. Relieve and comfort all 
that are in distress. Succeed the labours 
of the honest and industrious; cause 
the earth to bring forth her increase 
in due season, and satisfy our poor 
with bread. 

Accept, good liOrd, of my grateful 
acknowledgment for all the blessings, 
spiritual and temporal, personal and 
relative, with which thou hast favour- 
ed me thus far in life, and particularly 
for the mercies of the day past. I would 
take encouragement from hence cheer- 
fully to confide in the continuance of 
thy care and kindness. Into thy hands 
I commit the keeping of myself, and of 
all that are most dear to me this night. 
Protect us, if it be thy will, from every 
evil and danger, grant us quiet and 



246 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 

comfortable repose, raise us up again 
in health and safety the ensuing day, 
and preserve us to thy heavenly king- 
dom through the mediation of thy Son, 
Jesus Christ. — Amen. 



Devotions for Friday •Homing* 

HYMN 20. S. M.— America. 

1 SEE how the rising sun 

Pursues his shining way ; 
And wide proclaims his Maker's 
praise, 
With ev'ry bright- ning ray. 

2 Thus would my rising soul 

Its heav'nly parent sing ; 
And to its great original 
The humble tribute bring. 

3 Serene I laid me down 

Beneath his guardian care t 
I slept, and I awoke and found 
My kind Preserver near ! 

4 Thus does thine arm support 

This weak defenceless frame ; 
But whence these favours, Lord to me, 
So worthless as I am ? 

ft O ! how shall I repay 

The bounties of my Crod ? 
This feeble spirit pants beneath 
The pleasing painful load. 



DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 247 

6 Dear Saviour to tliy cross 

I bring my sacrifice ; 
T ing'd with thy blood, it shall ascend 
With fragrance to the skies. 

7 JMy life I would anew 

Devote O Lord, to thee ; 
And in thy presence I would spend 
A long eternity. 

Most glorious God ! Thou art light, 
and in Thee is no darkness at all. The 
perfections of thy nature are bright, 
beautiful and majestic, far beyond all 
our ideas and conceptions. Thou art 
possessed of irresistible power and un- 
erring wisdom ; of unblemished purity, 
the most serene benignity, and consum- 
mate bliss. Thou dwellest in light in- 
accessible, and art the Father of lights, 
with whom there is no variableness, 
nor shadow of turning, and from 
whom all thy creatures derive what- 
ever excellencies or advantages they 
possess. For Thou, © Lord, art the 
great source and original of all our 
natural powers and capacities ; of all 
our moral attainments and improve- 
ments s of all the good we do, and of 
all the blessings we either enjoy or 
hope for. 

I praise Thee, for the discoveries 
Thou hast made of thy transcendent 
glories, in the works of thine hands, 



248 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 

" in the heavens above, in the earth 
beneath, in the infinite varieties of thy 
creatures around ine, and in my own 
stupendous frame of body and mind." 
Hut more especially would I praise 
Thee, for the brighter discoveries of 
thy word, and that, although no man 
hath seen God at any time, yet the only 
begotten Son, who is in the bosom of 
the Father, hath declared him unto 
us, so far as was expedient for us to 
know him. I adore Thee, O Lord, for 
all the sacred and important instruc- 
tions which he hath communicated, 
concerning thy nature and will, thy 
love and grace ? and particularly that 
he hath brought life and immortality 
to light, by his glorious gospel, and di- 
rected our feet into those paths of 
righteousness which lead to certain 
and endless bliss. 

Shine, © Thou great parent of light, 
into my dark and beclouded mind s 
dispel the shades of ignorance and 
error, and give me that spiritual wis- 
dom, whereby I may be enabled to 
discern things that differ, and to ap- 
prove those things that are excellent. 
Help me to walk all the day in the 
light of tUj countenance § and in thy 
light may I see light. Nor let me take 
up with the bare knowledge of thy 
will, but set myself to do it with dili- 
gence, fidelity and zeal. Sanctify me 



DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY MORNING. 249 

by thy truth ; thy word is truth. Grant 
that my faith may grow exceedingly ; 
let it purify my heart, and work by 
love, and bring forth the peaceable 
fruits of righteousness. 

Make me sensible of the force and 
efficacy of those motives to holiness and 
virtue, which are set before me in the 
gospel. Suffer me not, in the midst of 
that light which beams forth upon me 
from thence, to sleep, as too many others 
do ; but may I watch and be sober. 
May I walk as becomes a child of light 
and of the day, and not as of the night 
and of darkness. Enable me to work 
the work of him that hath sent me, 
while it is day, knowing that the night 
cometh, wherein no man can work. 
Whatsoever my hand findeth to do, for 
advancing thine honour and interest 
in the world, for promoting the wel- 
fare of others, especially of those for 
whom I ought to be particularly con- 
cerned, or for securing the salvation of 
my own soul, may I do it with all my 
might, and be careful to make the best 
improvement I am able, of whatever 
portion of time Thou may est add to my 
earthly pilgrimage. And grant that I 
may walk in that path of the just, 
which is as the shining light, and will 
shine more and more unto the perfect 
day. 

Accept of my grateful acknowledg- 



250 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 

meiits. O Lord, for the care Thou hast 
taken of nte, and the numberless fa- 
vours Thou hast conferred upon me, 
from the beginning of my life to the 
present moment, and particularly for 
the security and repose of the past 
night : may this day pass over my head 
in innocence and peace, and every part 
of it be spent so as to turn to some good 
account, to myself and others. To thy 
care and blessing* I commend myself, 
and all that are near and dear to me, 
entreating that Thou wilt keep us al- 
ways in thy fear, and encompass us 
with thy favour. Help us to serve Thee 
faithfully while we live, and make us 
happy in Thee, and with Thee, after 
death, through the mediation of Jesus 
Christ the Son of thy love, in whose 
name and words I would sum up all 
my requests for myself and others, to 
Thee, Our Father, &c. 



Devotions for Friday Evening. 

HYMN 21. S. M.— Aylesbury. 

1 THE day is past and gone, 

The ev'ning shades appear ? 
O may I ever keep in mind, 
The night of death draws near. 

2 I lay my garments by, 

Upon my bed to rest ; 
So death will soon remove me hence, 
And leave my soul undrest. 



DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 251 

3 Lord, keep me safe this night, 

Secure from all my fears ; 
May angels guard me while I sleep, 
Till morning light appears. 

4 And when I early rise, 

To view th' unwearied sun, 
Hay I set out to win the prize, 
And after glory run. 

5 That when my days are past, 

And I from time remove. 
Lord, I may in thy bosom rest, 
The bosom of thy love. 

© blessed God, Thou Father of mer- 
cies, and God of all grace, peace and 
consolation ! Thou art love ; the most 
benevolent of all beings, the great eter- 
nal Fountain of felicity. Thou and 
Thou only, art originally, perfectly 
and essentially good in thyself, and 
Thou delightest in doing good contin- 
ually. Thou art good unto all, and 
thy tender mercies are over all thy 
works. All thy works praise Thee, O 
Lord, and it becomes thy saints to bless 
Thee ; and in a particular manner to 
magnify thy goodness that supremely 
glorious and amiable perfection of thy 
nature, which renders Thee the wor- 
thy object of our most delightful con- 
templation, and grateful praise. I 
would rejoice in all the displays of thy 
diffusive benevolence, through the 



252 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 

whole creation around me, but more 
especially would I praise Thee for the 
wonderful acts and instances of thy 
loving kindness to the children of men, 
and for the experience that I myself 
have had of thy bounty and benignity. 

I adore Thee as the former and the 
Father of mankind, whose wise and 
powerful goodness is manifested in the 
curious structure of our bodies ; but 
much more in the sublime powers and 
faculties of our minds 5 whereby we are 
most nearly allied to Thee our maker, 
and rendered capable of knowing, 
loving, serving, imitating, and enjoy- 
ing Thee, the great Origin and Source 
of life, and light, perfection, glory and 
blessedness. 

I adore Thee likewise for every in- 
stance and effect of thy providential 
care and kindness which I have ex- 
perienced in common with the rest of 
my species, for those measures of bodi- 
ly health and strength that I enjoy, 
for the free and regular exercise of my 
mental powers 5 for my liberty, my 
friends, and " all the necessaries, con- 
veniences, and comforts which thy 
liberal hand has provided, to render 
my passage through this state of trial 
and discipline easy and agreeable to 
me." 

But above all things would I praise 
Thee for the provision thou hast made 



DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 253 

for my future well-being in another 
and better state of existence, after this 
present life (which is forfeited by sin) 
shall be ended. Adored be the riches 
of thy redeeming love and grace, as 
manifested in sending thine only be- 
gotten Son into the world to seek and 
to save that which was lost ; to recover 
guilty rebels to thyself, and by his life 
and doctrine, his sufferings and death, 
his resurrection from the dead, and 
the power and authority with which 
he is invested at thy right hand, to ef- 
fect the pardon, sanctification, and 
salvation of all, who will submit to be 
taught, to be ruled, and saved by him. 
But while I am thus thankfully re- 
cognizing these expressions and dis- 
plays of thy matchless love and pater- 
nal tenderness, how much reason have 
I with shame and confusion of face to 
lament my past ingratitude, and the 
many unworthy returns I have made 
for thy great and unmerited goodness! 
Father, I have sinned against heaven 
and in thy sight, and am no longer 
worthy to be owned or treated as a 
child of thine. I acknowledge that 
my transgressions have been many 
and great ; and wretched indeed must 
I be, shouldst thou deal with me ac- 
cording to my deserts. But Thou hast 
proclaimed thyself to be the L<ord, the 
Lord God, merciful and gracious, long 



254 DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 

suffering', and abundant in goodness 
and truth; keeping mercy for thou- 
sands, forgiving iniquity, transgres- 
sion and sin. This is thy name forever, 
and in this naine would I hope and 
trust. O east me not off from thy pres- 
ence, I beseech Thee, and take not thy 
Holy Spirit from me, but in the multi- 
tude of thy tender mercies remember 
Thou me. Blot out all my transgres- 
sions, wash me thoroughly from mine 
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins, 
©raw me effectually ta thyself, hy the 
cords of love, which are the bands of a 
man; receive me graciously and love 
me freely. 

I would desire always to retain such 
a grateful sense of my obligations to 
Thee, as shall prove a principle of con- 
stant and universal obedience to thy 
laws, and engage me greatly to take 
delight in thy commandments. May I 
fear the ILord and his goodness, and 
dread nothing so much as to abuse thy 
kindness, and weary out thy patience. 
May I love Thee also above all, and, 
considering Thee as my portion and 
chief good, let the desires of my soul be 
drawn out after Thee, and my delight 
be created in Thee. 

And help me, O Thou Ood of love, to 
cultivate a most sincere and cordial 
benevolence to all my fellow creatures, 
regarding them as thine offspring, and 



DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY EVENING. 255 

doing the utmost, within my little 
sphere, to promote their welfare, and 
to advance that happiness, which is the 
great end of all thy works of creation, 
providence and redemption. But let 
me love those with a peculiar and dis- 
tinguished affection, who are most like 
Thee, and who are the objects of thy 
special love. Let all bitterness, and 
wrath, and clamour, and evil speaking 
be put away from me, with all malice, 
and may I be kind to those about me, 
tender hearted, and ready to forgive 
such as may offend me, even as I hope, 
through Jesus Christ, to obtain forgive- 
ness of Thee. Teach me to love even 
my enemies, to wish well to them that 
hate me, (if any such there be,) and to 
return good for evil, that so I may ap- 
prove myself one of thy genuine chil- 
dren, and be merciful as Thou art mer- 
ciful, and perfect as Thou my heavenly 
Father art perfect. 

From my past experience of thy ten- 
der care and unwearied kindness, I 
would take encouragement to hope 
that goodness and mercy will follow 
me all the days of my future life % and 
desire most cheerfully to trust Thee 
with myself, and with all that belong 
to me, to be disposed of as Thou shall 
see good. Into thy hands I commend 
myself this night, both soul and body. 
Let me lie down with holy and delight- 



256 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 

fill thoughts of Thee, and in the morn- 
ing, when 1 awake, let my heart be 
raised afresh in sentiments of love and 
gratitude to Thee $ and, with renewed 
pleasure and resolution, let me devote 
the remainder of my life to thy service. 
These my supplications and thanks- 
givings, I humbly offer up to Thee, O 
most merciful Father, in the name of 
Jesus Christ thy well beloved Son, and 
my all sufficient Saviour 5 to whom be 
all glory and dominion forever and 
ever. — Amen. 



Devotions for Saturday JHorning. 

HYMN 22. C. M.— Melody. 

1 IIOSAMA, with a cheerful sound, 

To God's upholding hand ! 
Ten thousand snares attend us round, 
And yet secure we stand. 

2 That was a most amazing pow'r 

That raised us with a word, 
And ev'ry day, and ev'ry hour, 
We lean upon the liord. 

3 The evening rests our weary head % 

And angels guard the room ; 
"We wake and we admire the bed, 
That was not made our tomb. 

4 The rising morning can't assure 

That we shall end the day ; 
For death stands ready at the door 

To take our lives away. 



DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING* 257 

5 Our breath is forfeited by sill 
To God's avenging law ; 
We own thy grace, immortal King, 
In every gasp we draw* 

G God is our sun, whose daily light 
Our joy and safety brings ; 
Our feeble flesh lies safe at night* 
Beneath his shady wings. 

Eternal and infinite Jehovah ! Thou 
art God, and there is none besides 
Thee, the great original and support 
of universal nature 5 "who derivest thy 
being from none, but givest being to 
all things. Thou art self-sufficient 
and all-sufficient ; supremely blessed 
in thyself, and the author of all good 
to thy creatures. Thou, O liord art 
worthy to receive honour, and glory, 
and blessing % for Thou hast created 
all things, and for thy pleasure they 
are and were created ; for the display 
of thy goodness, and the communica- 
tion of thy felicity* O that I may be 
enabled to praise and glorify Thee as 
I ought, and to seek my happiness 
alone in Thee* 

I would desire always to regard 
Thee as my origin and end % to remem- 
ber that my own being, in particular, 
is derived from Thee, and perpetual- 
ly supported by Thee ; and that it is 
in consequence of having obtained 
help of God that I continue unto this 

17 



258 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 

day an instance of thy sparing and 
preserving mercy, and a witness of tliy 
overflowing beneficence. How libe- 
rally bast tbon provided, most gra- 
cious Lord, not only for the supply of 
my wants, but for my innocent delight 
and comfort! What a profusion of 
gratifications for my outward senses 
and imagination I What nobler plea- 
sures for the entertainment of my 
mind, in the discovery of the most sub- 
lime and important truths I And above 
all, ho w much ami indebted to Thee 
for those moral powers and capacities 
with which Thou hast endowed me % 
for those benevolent propensities im- 
planted in my nature, which, while 
they carry me out of myself, contri- 
bute so largely to my own felicity % and 
for that highest of all human satisfac- 
tions, which arises from knowing,: 
loving, serving and enjoying Thee, un- 
der the endearing characters of my 
Father and Friend, my Portion and 
chief Good ! 

O that my heart may be duly affected 
with a sense of the benefits Thou hast 
already conferred upon me, and of the 
most valuable blessings thou hast en- 
couraged me to hope for hereafter, 
through the mediation of thy Son Jesus 
Christ ! Continue to me, I beseech Thee, 
all needful communications of thy mer- 
cy and favour. Grant me such a share 



DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNING. 259 

of outward accommodations and en- 
joyments as Thou mayest see conve- 
nient for me, but above all, lead me in 
the paths of righteousness, to the true 
perfection and felicity of thy nature* 

Forgive me, great and blessed Ood, 
hat I have wandered so far from Thee ; 
kat I have been so unmindful of the 
duties I owe Thee ; and have taken so 
little care to secure that felicity which 
is centered in Thee ; that I have commit- 
ted those two great evils, of forsaking 
Thee, the Fountain of living waters, 
and hewing out to myself cisterns, bro- 
ken cisterns that can hold no water. 
O convince me of the folly of seeking 
for happiness in any thing short of 
thyself, or in any other way than in 
that of thy commandments. 

Convince me, that in thy favour only 
there is life ; and that thy loving kind- 
ness is better than life, with all its en- 
joyments. Help me to choose Thee as 
my all-sufficient and never-failing por- 
tion : and accordingly to hope, and 
trust, and delight myself in Thee. And 
let it be my constant care and endea- 
vour, so to order my inward temper and 
my outward conduct and behaviour as 
is most agreeable to thy will ; so as most 
effectually to gain thy favour and ap- 
probation ; and thereby to secure, not 
only my own peace and comfort, but 
my future and everlasting welfare. 



260 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 

Enable me this day to walk closely 
with Thee % to act as under the notice 
of thine eye, and to rejoice in the mani- 
festations of thy love. Prepare me for 
whatever scenes of prosperity or ad- 
versity may lie before me % and succeed 
me in all my endeavours after self-im- 
provement and usefulness to others. 
Bless all my friends* relations and ac- 
quaintances ; unite us all to one ano- 
ther in the bonds of mutual love, and 
to thyself, by the practice of piety and 
holiness % and grant that, after serving 
Thee, and our generation, according 
to thy will, in our several stations here 
upon earth, we may at length be re- 
ceived into the joys and glories of 
thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus 
Christ thy Son the great Captain of 
our salvation. 

Now unto him of whom, and through 
whom, and to whom are all things, be 
glory forever. — Amen. 



Devotions for Saturday Evening. 

HYMN 23. P. M.— German Hymn. 

SOFTLY now the light of day 
Fades upon my sight away ; 
Free from care, from labour free, 
Lord, I would commune with Thee. 

Thou whose all-pervading eye 
Nought escapes without, within, 



DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 261 

Pardon each infirmity. 
Open fault, and secret sin. 

3 Soon, for me, the light of day 
Shall forever pass away ; 
Then from sin and sorrow free, 
Take me, Lord, to dwell with Thee. 

4 Thou who, sinless, yet hast known 
All of man's infirmity ; 

Then, from thine eternal throne, 
Jesus, look with pitying eye. 

O Thou supremely great, and incom- 
prehensible glorious Being ! Thou in- 
finite and eternal Spirit, who art the 
only living and true God ; unchange- 
able in thy nature, universal in thy 
presence, and uncontrollable in thy 
dominion; of whom, and through 
whom, and to whom, are all things ! 

I¥o works are like unto thy works s no 
excellences and perfections are worthy 
to be compared with thine; which 
shine forth in all thy designs of crea- 
tion, of providence, and of redemption. 
I would desire to meditate upon them 
with a sacred and salutary delight. 
Enable me, €> Thou Father of Spirits, 
to worship Thee in spirit and in truth, 
to revere thy irresistible power, to ad- 
mire the depths of thy unsearchable 
wisdom, and to rejoice in all the com- 
munications and displays of thy exu- 
berant goodness. Help me so to con- 



262 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 

template the beauty and glory of thy 
moral attributes, thy truth and righte- 
ousness, thy purity and benignity, as 
that I niay be transformed into the 
same image, from glory to glory. And 
frosn a full conviction of the equity of 
thy government, and the beneficial de- 
sign and tendency of all thy laws, may 
I be disposed to yield a cheerful and 
unreserved compliance with every in- 
timation of thy will* 

Forgive me, O most gracious God. 
that my thoughts have heen no more 
fixed upon Thee 5 that my affections 
have been no more drawn out after 
Thee; that I have been so unlike to 
Thee, the pattern of all perfection ; 
and have taken so little care to serve 
and please Thee. Under a deep and 
humbling sense of my past sin and fol- 
ly, I would now resolve by thy divine 
assistance, to cultivate a growing ac- 
quaintance with Thee % and all suita- 
ble dispositions towards Thee ; a great- 
er conformity to thine adorable excel- 
lences in the spirit of my mind, and a 
more entire obedience to thy precepts 
in the course of my life 5 that so I may 
bring forth all the fruits of righteous- 
ness which are hj Christ Jesus, to the 
praise and glory of God. 

Rlessed be thy name, O God of grace, 
for the revelation Thou hast made of 
thyself to us, of the duties Thou requi- 



DEVOTIONS FOR SATUNDAY EVENING. 263 

rest of us, and of the blessedness which 
Thou hast designed for us, in the gos- 
pel of thy Son* I praise Thee, that 
Thou didst send him into the world, 
not to eondem the world, but that the 
world, through him, might be saved ; 
to offer pardon and forgiveness to peni- 
tent offenders ; to point out the way to 
eternal life and happiness, through his 
instructions and example % and to seal 
the promises of that new covenant, of 
which he was the mediator, with his 
dying blood. And as, by thy determi- 
nate counsel and foreknowledge, he 
was delivered up to sufferings and 
death for our offences, so I praise 
Thee, that by the energy of thy mighty 
power, he was raised again for our 
justification, that we might have the 
fullest assurance of our acceptance 
with God, through him, and that be- 
cause he lives, we might live also. 

Grant me, © Iiord, I beseech Thee, a 
saving interest in the blessed fruits of 
his life and doctrine, of his sufferings 
and death, of his resurection and exal- 
tation at thy right hand. And for this 
end, excite and cherish in my soul, a 
true, lively and efficacious faith in him. 
The life which I live in the flesh I would 
desire to live by the faith of the Son of 
God, who loved me and gave himself 
for me. And O that the great and in- 
teresting truths which he has brought 



264 DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 

to light in his glorious gospel, may not 
only gain the assent of my understand- 
ing, hut sink deep into my heart, and 
have a eommanding influence on the 
whole of my conduct ! ILet me imbibe 
the spirit as well as the doctrine of Je- 
sus, my gracious L<ord. H-et the same 
mind be in me which was also in him. 
May I take his yoke upon me, and learn 
of him who was meek and lowly of 
heart, that so I may And rest to my soul. 
And help me to walk worthy of that 
high and holy calling, wherewith he 
has called me ; worthy of the great 
and important privileges that are con- 
ferred upon me, and of the glorious 
hopes that are set before me. 

Raise my affections more and more, 
blessed God, to those things that are 
above ; and teach me to moderate my 
regard to all inferior and sensible ob- 
jects. Free me from all inordinate 
cares about the things of this life ; 
from all distrust of thy good provi- 
dence ; from all repining language and 
discontented thoughts. And enable 
me in every situation and circum- 
stance of life to be not only patient and 
resigned, but cheerful and thankful ; 
knowing that all things are ordered 
by Thee in the wisest and best manner, 
and so as shall work together for good 
to them that love Thee. 

IWost gratefully would I adore that 



DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY EVENING. 265 

goodness and mercy of thine that have 
attended me all my days, and supplied 
me with all things needful to my com- 
fortable subsistence in life. And I par- 
ticularly bless Thee, at this time, for 
the protection and supplies of the day 
and week past. Pardon, I beseech 
Thee, whatever fresh guilt I may have 
contracted therein. And as one day 
and week is passing away after another 
in swift succession, let me be careful to 
redeem the time I have lost or mispent, 
hy a redoubled diligence in thy service, 
for the remainder of my uncertain life ; 
and to improve every opportunity of 
doing or receiving good, and of pre- 
paring for that eternal state to which I 
am hastening. Continue thy watchful 
care over me this night ; and grant me 
such refreshing sleep as may tit me for 
serving Thee acceptably and profita- 
bly on thy own day ensuing. 

And O Thou common father of man- 
kind, permit me to breathe forth my 
fervent wishes for the welfare of all my 
brethren, the fellow members of that 
great family of thine which is spread 
over all the earth. O that all might be 
partakers, not only of the bounties of 
thy providence ; but of the richer bless- 
ings of thy grace; that all might so 
come to the knowledge of thy truth, as 
to be saved according to thy gracious 
will, through Jesus Christ, the media- 



266 DEVOTIONS EOR SATURDAY EVENING. 

tor between God and man, who gave 
himself to be a ransom for all, to be 
testified in dne time ! Let all Christian 
churches every where flourish, and also 
abound in truth and peace, in love, 
and in all good works. Let all the 
lands of the whole world, and the do- 
minions thereto belonging, be still fa- 
voured by thee ; and let the inhabitants 
thereof be careful to make a better 
improvement of thy distinguishing fa- 
vours. Bless our rulers and governors, 
supreme and subordinate, and make 
their administration productive of 
great and extensive good. Give success 
to the labours of those who preach the 
gospel of thy Son, in its purity and sim- 
plicity 5 and may the power of godli- 
ness be visible in the lives of all profes- 
sing Christians. Have mercy on such 
as are in affliction ; and afford them 
suitable and seasonable relief. Bless 
the family to which I belong ; may every 
member of it be graciously regarded by 
Thee ; and may all my friends be thine. 
Preserve them from all real evil 5 and 
delight over them to do ihem good. 

And now unto him who is able to 
keep us from falling, and to present us 
faultless before the presence of his glory 
with exceeding great joy 5 to the only 
wise God our Saviour, be glory and ma- 
jesty, dominion and power, both now 
and forever. — Amen. 



CORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 267 

•Horning devotions for the Lord's day. 

H Y M N 24. C. M.— St. George's. 

1 LORI>, in the morning; Thou shalt 

hear, 

JIj voice ascending' high ; 
To Thee will I direct my prayer, 
To Thee lift up mine eye. 

2 Up to the hill§ where Christ is gone, 

To plead for all his saints, 
Presenting at his Father's throne 
Our songs and our complaints. 

3 Thou art a Ood, before whose sight 

The wicked shall not stand ; 
Sinners shall ne'er be thy delight, 
Nor dwell at thy right hand. 

4 But to thy house will I resort, 

To taste thy mercies there ; 
I irill frequent thy holy court, 
And worship in thy fear. 

5 O may thy Spirit guide m.y feet 

In ways of righteousness ! 
Make ev'ry path of duty straight, 
And plain before my face. 

" If thou turn away thy foot from the 
Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my 
holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, 
the holy of the JLord, honourable? and 
shalt honour him, not doing thine own 
ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor 
speaking thine own words / then shalt thou 
delight thyself in the Ltord." — Is. 58. 13. 



* 
268 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 

Almighty God, Maker of heaven and 
earth ! Most merciful Father and Au- 
thor of all good ! Inasmuch as Thon 
hast set apart one day of the week and 
dedicated it to thy service, how reason- 
able is it that all mankind should 
honour the Sabbath, and keep it holy 
unto Thee ; as it is incumbent on all 
creatures to hearken unto Thee, and 
obey thy commandments. But alas ! 
I must confess, that I have profaned 
many Sabbaths ; that I have often been 
a hypocritical professor of thy name ; 
a forgetful hearer and an awful despi- 
ser of thy word 5 for which, Thou 
mightest justly have given me over, to 
hardness of heart and blindness of 
mind. But Thou, O God I hast hither- 
to, in much mercy spared me, and per- 
mitted me to enjoy the light of another 
Sabbath 5 grant, therefore, O liord, 
that I may duly appreciate this distin- 
guished favour % and as Thou hast per- 
mitted me, to behold the light of this 
day, even so may the rays of the sun 
of righteousness illuminate the eyes of 
my understanding. Enlighten and 
govern me hy thy good Spirit, that I 
may walk in all holiness of life and 
conduct before Thee, this day 5 teach 
me to realize, that Thou hast not set 
this day apart and commanded us to 
keep it holy, to indicate that Thou hast 
pleasure in idleness, or to lead us to 



269 

imagine that thy service consists in 
resting our bodies ; but that ire may 
thereby be freed from all hindrances, 
so that we may devote our bodies, souls 
and spirits to thy service. Grant, © Fa- 
ther, that I may ever call the Sabbath 
my delight, and spend it in thy fear ; 
that I may not do mine own works, or 
follow mine own will, or speak mine 
own words, but devote it wholly to thy 
service. For this purpose, pour out thy 
If oly Spirit, O God, upon me, that he 
may illuminate my mind, and turn my 
heart entirely unto Thee, and thus 
draw off all my thoughts and desires 
from earth and earthly objects, and 
elevate them to Thee, and serve Thee 
with my whole heart, as a Spirit, in 
spirit and in truth. Bless all the 
means and ordinances of thy grace, 
which I may this day enjoy, to my sal- 
vation. Permit me to exercise a pro- 
found reverence in prayer, before thy 
divine majesty, to realize my misery as 
a sinner before God, and to exercise an 
unshaken faith in thy divine promises, 
a grateful remembrance of all past fa- 
vours, and a sincere love towards my 
neighbours. 

Open Thou mine eyes when hearing 
thy word, that I may behold wondrous 
things ovtt of thy law; unstop mine 
ears, that I may hear it for eternity, 
and grant me an obedient heart, thai 



270 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 

I may receive tlie truth in tlie love of 
it. Strengthen and sanctify my memo- 
ry in swell a manner, that I may seri- 
ously meditate upon what I hear, and 
treasure it up in a good and honest 
heart, and make it the rule of my faith, 
life and conduct, so that I may increase 
in knowledge, grow in faith, and be 
quickened as to the inner man, and 
bring forth all the fruits of good living, 
and improve this Sabbath, (which is a 
type of that rest which is eternal in the 
heavens,) as a blessed means of con- 
ducting me thither. 

O Thou great ILord of the Sabbath ! 
sanctify unto me this day of rest. ILet 
thy good Spirit rest upon me, that my 
soul may find rest in Thee, amidst the 
fiery trials and temptations, with 
which I am surrounded ; in that dread 
which fills me with terror, so that I may 
devote ail the powers and faculties of 
my soul and body to the contemplation 
of thy works, obeying thy command- 
ments, calling upon thy name, exalt- 
ing thine almighty power, praising thy 
condescension and grace, and in exer- 
cising Christian sympathy, love and 
benevolence towards all my fellow 
creatures. Grant, O God, that I may 
walk this whole day before Thee, and 
be perfect ; that I may be meek in all 
my conversation like Moses ; that I may 
seek thy holy face like him, and so regu- 



271 

late my whole life, as to be aeeeptable 
in thy sight, here on earth, and when 
this life shall have been terminated, be 
introduced into that rest purchased 
and prepared for me, by Christ my Re- 
deemer, to spend an eternal Sabbath in 
the enjoyment of unspeakable pleasure? 
atthy right hand, for evermore. — Amer 

HYMN 25. Vs.—Hotham. 

1 SAFEli Y through another week, 
Ood has brought us on our way % 
l<et us now a blessing seek, 
Waiting in his courts to-day : 
Day of all the week the best; 
Emblem of eternal rest. 

2 While we seek supplies of grace, 
Through the dear Redeemer's name % 
Show thy reconciling face — 

Take away our sin and shame : 
From our worldly cares set free, 
May we rest this day in Thee. 

3 Here we come thy name to praise, 
Xet us feel thy presence near ; 

May thy glory meet our eyes, 
While we in thy house appear : 
Mere afford us, liord, a taste 
Of our everlasting feast. 

4 May the gospel's joyful sound, 
Conquer sinners, comfort saints ; 
Make the fruits of grace abound 
Rring relief from ail complaints I 
Thus let all our Sabbaths prove, 
Till we join the church above. 



272 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAT. 

Evening devotions for the JLord^s dap* 

HYMN 26. L. M.— Wells. 

1 SWEET is the work, my God, my 

King, [sing, 

To praise thy name, give thanks and 
To show thy love by morning light, 
And talk of all thy truth at night. 

2 Sweet is the day of saered rest, 

No mortal eare shall seize my breast : 
O may my heart in tune be found, 
Like David's harp of solemn sound. 

3 My heart shall triumph in the Lord, 
And bless his works, and bless his 

word ; [shine ! 

Thy works of gr aee, how bright they 
Ho w deep thy eounsels ! how divine ! 

4 Fools never raise their thoughts so 

high s [die ; 

Like brutes they live, like brutes they 
Like grass they flourish, 'till thy 

breath 
Blast them in everlasting death. 

" Me that loveth me, heepeth my com- 
mandments." — John 14. 

Holy and righteous art Thou, the 
everliving and Almighty God! Thou 
wast, and art, and shall be to all eter- 
nity, the unehangeable Jehovah ! 
Sanctify, O God, my nature, in order 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY. 273 

that I may be enabled to sanctify thy 
name. As thou permittest me to enjoy 
the pleasant fruits of thy goodness and 
compassion, in granting* me life and 
breath, health and strength, O impart 
unto me such a measure of thy holi- 
ness, as will enable me to live and die 
unto Thee ; sanctify all the affections 
of my heart, the thoughts and intents 
of my soul, the words of my mouth, 
and the works of my hands, that they 
may all be acceptable in thy sight. 
Sanctify the prayer which I offer unto 
Thee, at the close of this thine holy 
Sabbath, as an evening sacrifice, and 
prepare me to render suitable praises 
and thanksgivings unto thy great and 
holy name. 

Especially would I acknowledge, 
with heart-felt gratitude and thanks- 
giving, as a special proof of thy love 
towards me an unworthy sinner, that 
Thou hast permitted me to enjoy the 
privileges and means of engaging this 
day, in thy service, and to sit under 
the droppings of thy sanctuary in thy 
house, and to join with thy people, to 
offer unto Thee a sacrifice of thanks- 
giving and praise, to acknowledge 
before Thee all my sins, to hear thy 
blessed word, in order to grow wise 
unto salvation, to confirm my hope 
and confidence in the promises of the 
gospel, and to inflame my heart with 

18 



274 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY 

a holy zeal in the amendment of my 
whole life. 

Grant, © l<ord, that the good seed of 
thy holy word, which has this day 
been sown into my heart, may not 
have fallen by the way side, so as to be 
trodden under foot, or to be destroyed 
by the fowls of the air, or upon stony 
ground, so as to perish under the 
parching rays of the sun, or among 
the thorns, so as soon to be choked 
in its growth ; but may it have fallen 
on fruitful ground, so as to bring forth 
fruit an hundred fold, to the honour 
and glory of thy holy name, and to 
the salvation of my immortal soul. 

And grant, O most gracious and mer- 
ciful Father, that I may treasure up 
thy word, and the instruction, admo- 
nition and comfort contained in it, in 
my heart like Mary of old ; that it may 
cause a holy burning within me, like 
unto the two disciples on the way to 
Emaus 5 that it may incite me to search 
the scriptures, like the Sereans, and 
cause me to rejoice like unto the Ethio- 
pian Eunuch; and that I may so im- 
prove it in life, sufferings and death, 
that my ignorance maybe removed, my 
drowsiness be dispelled, and that I may 
be guarded against all selfishness and 
sin ; that I may overcome all tempta- 
tion, suppress all sinful desires, and be 
comforted amidst all my crosses and 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORD ? S DAT 276 

tribulations. Grant also, that it may 
prove the strength of my heart in 
death, and an unequivocal pledge of 
everlasting happiness and salvation. 

But inasmuch, O Lord, as all our 
performances, and even the services of 
this day, are imperfect and partake of 
sin, even the hearing of thy word, the 
weakness of my faith, and the imper- 
fection of my obedience to thy will and 
commandments, O pardon Thou, all 
my short-comings in thy sight and ser- 
vice, for the sake of thy beloved Son 
Jesus Christ. 

And as this is a day of the Son of 
Man, on which he, by his resurrection, 
overcame death, and sealed the for- 
giveness of my sins, and imparted unto 
me a lively hope of an inheritance, 
incorruptible, undefiled and which 
fadeth not away ; O be pleased, gra- 
cious God, so to enlighten and sanctify 
my heart, by thy Holy Spirit, that I 
may ever bear in mind, that with thy 
Son, Thou hast given me all things, 
and made me a participator of thy 
heavenly grace, of his precious merits, 
and all the pleasures of thy right hand 
forevermore. 

And, O Jesus, Thou Son of the living 
God, as Thou art offered unto me on 
this holy day, nay, wert exhibited to 
me in the preaching of thy gospel, as 
crucified for my sins, O grant me grace 



276 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THE LORd's DAT* 

rightly to know Thee, cordially love 
Thee, and to derive constant supplies 
of comfort from a participation in the 
rich blessing's flowing- from thy suffer- 
ings and death, so that I may be ena- 
bled steadfastly to follow Thee, through 
evil as well as through good report, 
whilst sojourning here in this vale of 
tears, until thou shalt at last introduce 
me into thy Father's house, forever to 
dwell with Thee, to behold and parti- 
cipate with Thee, in all thy glory. — 
Amen. 

HYMN 27. C. M.— Melody. 

1 When, O dear Jesus, when shall I 

Behold thee all serene ; 
Blest in perpetual Sabbath day, 
Without a veil between ? 

2 Assist me while I wander here 

Amidst a world of cares ; 
Incline my heart to pray with love, 
And then accept my pray'rs. 

3 Thy Spirit, O my Father give, 

To be my guide and friend ; 
To light my path to ceaseless joys, 
"Where Sabbaths never end. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 277 

Devotions for JfKonday Jflorning. 

HYMN 28. 8, 8, 6. — Anticipation, 

1 OI¥CE more niy eyes behold the day. 
And to my God my soul would pay 

Its tributary lays : 
© may the life preserved by Thee, 
With all its pow'rs, and blessings be 

Devoted to thy praise. 

2 Beneath the shadow of thy wings, 
(Israel's great keeper King of kings,) 

My weary head found rest : 
TYo dire alarms, or raeking pains, 
Devouring flames, or galling ehains, 

Disturb my peaceful breast. 

3 How many sinee I laid me down 
Have launched into a world un- 
known, 

To meet a dreadful doom ; 
While some on wat'ry billows toss'd, 
Or wand'ring on an unknown coast, 

Have sigh'd in vain for home. 

4 But, I am spared to see thy face, 
A monument, of saving grace, 

And live to praise thy name : 
Still be thou near, my gracious Lord, 
To keep and guide ; and hy thy word, 

Peace to my soul proclaim. 

5 Let me enjoy thy presence here 
In ev'ry storm my heart to cheer, 

Till Thou shalt bid me rise, 



278 DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 

Where sin and sorrow never come, 
Till at my blest eternal home, 
I wake in sweet surprise* 

" Teach me thy way, O JLord : I will 
walk in thy truth : unite my heart to fear 
thy name." Ps. 86, 11. 

O Almighty Father, maker of Hea- 
ven and earth ! From the inmost re- 
cesses of my soul, would I thank Thee 
for permitting me to lay me down, un- 
der the shadow of thy wings, to enjoy 
the repose of the past night, and to 
arise this morning in health and 
strength, to enjoy the cheerful saluta- 
tions of the light of this morning. I 
have now enjoyed another sabbath, 
which is past and gone; and am 
brought by thy good providence, to the 
commencement of another day of the 
week ; © Lord be pleased to blot out, 
with the past night, for Jesus' sake, 
all my sins and transgressions, and 
cast them far behind Thee, into the 
Ocean of oblivion. Fnabie me by thy 
grace, to commence the labours and 
duties of this day with cheerfulness, 
and grant, that as 1 spent the Sabbath 
in worshipping Thee as a Spirit, in 
spirit and in truth ; so may I spend this 
and all the other days of the ensuing 
week, in an interrupted attention to 
the duties of my calling. Bless and es- 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 279 

tablish, O Father, the work of my 
hands, and may I never be forgetful of 
Thee, but in all the labours of the day, 
accomplish thy holy will, live blame- 
less in thy sight, in all situations and 
cireumstances of life, be fervent in 
prayer, patient under tribulation, hope 
in thy mercy, and when my great 
change shall come, may I fall sweetly 
asleep in Jesus. Assist me this day and 
all the days of my life, with power from 
on high, to watch against and with- 
stand all the fiery temptations of the 
world, the flesh and the devil, and ena- 
ble me to subdue all the combined ene- 
mies of my soul, and thus keep myself 
pure from the pollutions of an ungodly 
world. 

And, O Ood ! as thou didst on this day 
of the week create the firmament, the 
place of heavenly light, whence all thy 
creatures enjoy this inestimable bless- 
ing according to their different spe- 
cies, O be pleased to grant unto my soul 
the light of thy word, that I may con- 
tinually walk before thee, in all up- 
rightness, in the way of grace and 
peace, that I may not stumble. Or ant, 
in much mercy, that the clearness of 
this light, which dissipates the moral 
mists and darkness of the understand- 
ing, overcomes the stubbornness of the 
will, purifies the unholy desires of the 
heart, and proves a guide to the feeUs 



280 DEMOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 

may never become darkness in me, be- 
cause my deeds are evil ; but preserve 
and increase unto me, O thou Father of 
lights! this blessed Light of life and sal- 
vation, which shows me so clearly, that 
by nature and practice I am nothing 
but impurity ; that my life is filled 
with vanity, that infirmities await me 
in death, and that in the cold grave to 
which I am hastening, my body shall 
become food for corruption, earth and 
worms ; that of myself I have nothing, 
and without Christ's strengthening 
me, I am not able to think a good 
thought, speak a good word, or do a 
good deed; that I am moreover sur- 
rounded with many enemies ; exposed 
to storms, to all manner of crosses, tri- 
bulations and adversities, so long as I 
remain the tempestuous billows of 
time ; that for the few seasons of joy 
and pleasure which I enjoy, I have to 
endure much dishonour and anxiety ; 
and for short seasons of refreshing, I 
am subject to long and tedious suffer- 
ings of pain and anguish. Grant there- 
fore, O Lord, that this knowledge of 
ray situation, as a probationer on this 
thy footstool, may ever tend to increase 
my zeal and diligence, in working out 
my soul's salvation, with fear and trem- 
bling, whilst I continually look unto 
thee, to work in me, to will and to do, 
according to thine own good pleasure. 



DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY MORNING. 2«1 

And, as we call this Jflonday* preserve 
me © Lord from being as changeable 
in the work of godliness, as the moon 
is in light; but grant that I may con- 
tinually, not decline, but grow in holi- 
ness ; thus increasing in the grace and 
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ, as constantly as I increase 
in days and years, until the light of my 
faith, be as the full moon and all my 
walk and conversation shall be pleas- 
ing in thy sight, O Lord my Strength 
and my Redeemer. 

And as Thou, O God, didst on this 
day of the week, create the clouds, 
that they might pour out rain upon 
the earth, even so be pleased to pour 
out a fruitful shower of thy grace, 
upon my heart, to remove its hardness 
and barrenness, that thy word may 
take deep root, spring forth in a joy- 
ful hope, and expand in cordial love, 
and finally bring forth the saving 
fruits of all good works. 

Thou didst also, on this day, divide 
the waters of the firmament from the 
waters of the earth. Be pleased, in like 
manner, © God I hy thy grace, to divide 
and scatter tl\e Hoods of tribulation, 
that they may not overflow my souL 

Thou didst finally, on this day, create 

* The days of the week are called after the Sun, 
Moon, and Planets. 



282 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 

the pure air, without which I could 
not for a moment live, move or even 
breathe. O then be pleased, gracious 
God, to breathe forth upon me, the in- 
fluences of thy grace and Spirit, with- 
out which all my prayers, sighs and 
devotion, must immeditely expire, and 
any soul must soon loose all necessary 
power and disposition to engage in thy 
service. 

Or ant me, O heavenly Father, that 
so long as I draw breath, I may also 
experience the life-giving and saving 
effects of thy grace, to enable me to 
live unto Thee and in thy service, and 
to laud, magnify and adore thy holy 
name to all eternity. — Amen. 

HYMN 29. L. M.— Park- Street. 

1 BEHOLD, the sun adorns the sky, 
And darts his cheering rays on high ; 
From east to west, in glorious march, 
He gilds the wide expansive arch. 

3 The warbling larks, in triumph 

mount, 
And all the scenes of morn recount ; 
While sounding groves and vallies 

ring, 
With praise to heav'n's eternal King. 

3 Begin, my soul the morning song ; 
I^et thankfulness inspire thy tongue: 
The kindness of thy God proclaim, 
And tell the wonders of his name. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. }J83 

4. Sing how his hand thy life defends, 
And for thy guard his angel sends : 
In grateful praise his name adore, 
When fleeting days shall be no more. 

5 [Yes, O my Grod I thy glorious name, 
My soul shall thro 9 the day proclaim ; 
1*11 bear thy kindness on my heart, 
While ev'ry pow'r performs its part.] 



Evening Devotions for J9tonday. 

HYMN 30. & 8. ^—Willowbxj. 

1 NO farther go to night, but stay, 
Dear Saviour, till the break of day i 

Turn in, dear Lord, with me ; 
And in the morning when I wake. 
Me in thine arms, dear Jesus, take, 

And 1*11 go on with Thee. 

3 Now, Lord, be with us on our way ; 
Unveil thy face, thine arm display, 

Thy glory let us prove s [walk, 

I>o Thou, dear Saviour, with us 
That while with Thee we sweetly 
talk, 
Our hearts may burn with love. 

3 May we in faith still journey on, 
Till we arrive where Thou art gone; 

And see thy face in heave'n ; 
Then, when in glory we shall meet, 
In what sweet concert shall we sit, 

And sing of sins forgiv'n. 



284 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 

"But as for me, my prayer is unto 
Thee, O Lord* in an acceptable time s O 
Crod, in the multitude of thy mercy, hear 
me, in the truth of thy salvation." — Ps. 
6». 13. 

O eternal and holy Ood, and most 
mereiful Father in Christ .Testis the 
Redeemer ! I thine unworthy and un- 
profitable servant (or hand-maid) ac- 
knowledge, with unfeigned humility, 
that I am a great and grievous sinner, 
that I have transgressed all thy holy 
commandments, and alas ! have this 
day, by sins, committed in thoughts, 
words and deeds, increased the moun- 
tain of mine iniquities. To the riches 
of thy goodness, forbearance and long- 
suffering, am I entirely indebted, for 
being spared in the land of the living, 
and that I have not been, long since, 
cut down, and cast into that lake, 
which burnetii with fire and brim- 
stone, there to receive the just rewards 
of my demerits. 

Thou, O Lord, knowest all my sins, 
and mine iniquities are all open be- 
fore Thee. My heart condemns me on 
account of them, but Thou, O liord, 
art much greater than my heart, and 
knowest all things, and yet Thou ex- 
ercisest much forbearance and long- 
suffering towards me, and hast even 
condescended to promise me the par- 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY 285 

don of all my sins, for Christ's sake, 
on condition of my repentance and 
true faith in the ILord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, would I take my flight un- 
to Thee, and appeal front the throne 
of thy justice, righteousness and spot- 
less holiness, to the throne of thy mercy 
and grace, which are infinitely greater 
than all my sins, and I beseech Thee, 
most fervently, to look down upon me, 
in the face of thine anointed Son, 
Jesus Christ, in whom Thou art ever 
well pleased. 

I would moreover render Thee spe- 
cial praises and thanksgiving O God ! 
for the many instances of thy favour 
towards me through the day which 
has just come to a close. Thou hast 
spread over me the banners of thy pro- 
tecting love, and hast guarded me from 
evil and danger, and hast granted me 
many visitations of mercy and grace, 
and I beseech Thee, Parent in heaven, 
to take me into thy holy care and keep- 
ing, through the coming night, so that 
I may be preserved from all the power 
of the devil. Permit me in thy name, 
to both lay me down and sleep ; let no 
ill dreams disturb my repose, no unne- 
cessary cares oppress my mind, nor sin- 
ful thoughts trouble my soul. Preserve 
my body from pain and sickness, my 
food from every thing injurious to 
health ; and those who are near and 



286 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 

dear unto me from trouble and distress, 
and keep us all as the apple of thine 
eye. And if it be consistent with thy 
holy will, permit me to arise on the 
coming inorning, in health and 
strength, fitted for the dnties of the 
day, to the praise of thy most worthy 
name, to the promotion of the welfare 
of my fellow creatures, and mine own 
best interests in Christ Jesus our Re- 
deemer to everlasting salvation* 

Thou, O blessed Saviour, didst, on the 
last Monday of thy sojourning on earth, 
curse the barren fig tree, because it 
brought forth leaves, without fruit, 
and afterwards purified the temple at 
Jerusalem, and didst teach and per- 
form miracles therein. I acknowledge, 
with humility, that I have also been 
too unfruitful in good works and that 
I have brought forth more leaves than 
fruit. My heart, which should ever be 
a holy temple and dwelling place for 
Thee, through a lively faith in thy 
blood, is, alas ! too full of all manner 
of simple thoughts, lusts and desires. 

I am, alas! more blind in mind in 
divine things, and more lame in the 
faculties of my soul, in obeying thy 
precepts, than those blind and lame, 
which Thou didst heal in the temple, 
and therefore, deserve to be cursed like 
unto the barren fig-tree, and to be ex- 
cluded from the fellowship of thy peo- 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY. 287 

pie. But I entreat Thee, O blessed Sa- 
viour, to have mercy on me, and exercise 
forbearance towards me, in my imper- 
fections, and barrenness, teach me thy 
will, lieal all my spiritual sickness, 
purify and sanctify my soul, from all 
evil propensities, prepare my heart to 
be an acceptable dwelling place, and 
dwell therein, as in thy temple. Make 
me fruitful, as a tree planted by the 
water brooks ! which brings forth its 
fruit in due season, and whose leaves 
never wither ; open, also, the eyes of 
my mind, that I may rightly know 
Thee, and learn thy will. 

Perfect thy strength in my weakness, 
and guide me by thy Holy Spirit, that 
I may dedicate all the faculties of my 
soul and body to thy service. When 
Thou didst heal the sick and afflicted 
in the temple, the children cried out 
hosanna to the Son of David ! whilst 
the high priest and the scribes were en- 
raged against Thee, and plotted thy 
destruction. O be pleased, gracious 
Lord, to assimilate me, in disposition, 
to those little ones, and preserve me, in 
much mercy, from the angry and in- 
human passion, evinced by the high 
priest and scribes. Grant that I may 
ever learn more and more of Thee, in 
and from thy works, and ever confide 
in Thee, as the only and true Saviour 
of mankind, and with joy spread thy 



288 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR MONDAY 

praise abroad, and rejoice, when Thou 
dost good unto my brethren of man* 
kind ; and may I be induced to imitate 
thy blessed example of love and good* 
Trill towards men, and love Thee, that 
I may enjoy thy love, both in time and 
for eternity, — Amen. 

HYMN31. 8, 7,-— Vesper Hymn. 

1 I* OBD, with growing heart I'd praise 

Thee, 

For the bliss thy love bestows ; [me. 
For the pardoning grace that saves 

And the peace that from it flows : 
Help, OXord, my weak endeavour, 

This dull soul to rapture raise : 
Thou must light the flame, or never 

Can my love be warm'd to praise r 

2 Praise, my soul, the God that sought 

thee 
Wretched ivand'rer, far astray ; 
Found thee lost, and kindly brought 
thee 
From the paths of death away: 
Praise, with love's devoutest feeling, 
Him who saw thy guilt-born fear, 
And, the light of hope revealing, 
Bade the blood stain'd cross appear. 

3 Lord this bosom's ardent feeling 

Vainly would my lips express : 
Low before thy footstool kneeling, 
Deign the suppliant's prayer to 
bless : 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 289 

Let thy grace, my soul's chief trea- 
sure, 

Iiove's pure flame within me raise ; 
And since words can never measure, 

Let my life show forth thy praise. 



•Horning Devotions for Tuesday. 

H Y iM N 32. P. M. 7, 6.— Romaine. 

1 TO Thee, in each bright morning, 

Father of all, we pray ; 
While thought and fancy drawing, 

Lead on the rising day ; 
To Thee, in life's last even, 

We'll tune our feebler breath ; 
Hear all our sins forgiven, 

And softly sleep in death. 

3 When from death's sleep we 'waken, 

No fears shall us surprise ; 
All earthly things forsaken, 

What joys shall meet our eyes? 
With raptures then increasing, 

For ever we'll rejoice ; 
And praises never-ceasing, 

Shall wake each tuneful voice. 

u Teach me to do thy wilt; for Thou art 
my Crod / thy Spirit is good ; tead me 
into the tand of uprightness." — Ps. 143. 

O Almighty €rod and merciful Fa- 
ther, I would render Thee most hear- 
ty thanks, for the fatherly protection 
extended unto me through the past 

19 



290 * MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 

night: Thou hast preserved my soul 
from fear and anxiety, my body from 
disease, my life from death, my food 
from all injuriousness, my conscience 
from offence, my honour from shame, 
and all that I am and possess from in- 
jury and accident ; and now in thine 
abounding love and mercy, which is 
better than life, Thou hast permitted 
me to rise from my bed of repose in per- 
fect health, to behold the light of this 
morning. In thy name, O Lord, will 
I now commence the business of this 
day, according to thy will, and entreat 
Thee, that as Thou hast been my Pre- 
server from evil and danger through 
the past night, so continue, through this 
and all the succeeding days of my life, 
to be my very present help in every 
time of need. Inasmuch as Thou, © 
Father, hast, in tenderness, watched 
over me, and permitted me to enjoy a 
sweet and refreshing sleep ; be pleased 
also, to guard me whilst I am awake, 
and abide with me while engaged in 
the discharge of the duties of my call- 
ing, so that I may do nothing hut what 
is consistent with thy will, promotive 
of thy glory, and that may redound 
to the best interests of my friends and 
neighbours, as well as my own salva- 
tion. 

I moreover confess unto Thee, O 
Thou holy and righteous €rod ! and 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 291 

that with much §hame and confusion 
of face, that I have hitherto, with the 
multitude, both of my original and 
actual, open and secret sins, most 
shamefully profaned thy holy name, 
despised thy holy word, defaced thine 
image within me, done despite to thy 
Holy Spirit, abused thy mercy, wound- 
ed my conscience, injured my good 
name, offended my neighbours, and 
have thereby, not only deprived my 
own soul of the precious consolations 
of thy holy word, and of the protection 
of thy good Spirit, but have also, justly 
increased thy displeasure, and above 
all, treasured up thy wrath against the 
day of final retribution. Therefore, 
would I cry unto Thee, O for help, that 
I may not perish in my sins. May the 
influences of thy Spirit and thy grace, 
affect my hard heart, with a feeling 
sense of my sins and miseries, that 
mine eyes may become, as it were, a 
fountain of tears, to run down, both 
day and night, for my sins, and that I 
may humble myself in sackcloth and 
ashes, under thine Almighty hand, for 
having sooftenand grievously offended 
Thee. And, © €*od, I beseech Thee, to 
forgive me all mine iniquities, and can- 
cel them, with the precious blood of 
thine only begotten and well beloved 
Son, Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, and 
for his sake grant me thy Holy Spirit 



292 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 

to renew my heart, enlighten mine eyes* 
subdue my stubborn "will, change my 
sinful purposes, and to ever present be- 
fore mine eyes, the evil fruits and rui- 
nous consequences of sin, that I may 
more carefully guard against the 
smallest deviation from the path of 
duty, and no longer continue in the 
services of satan, the world or the flesh ; 
but continue to serve Thee with fidelity, 
all the days of my life, in righteousness 
and true holiness, which is ever well- 
pleasing in thy sight. 

And O God, Thou didst as the Al- 
mighty Maker of all things, on this day 
of the week, gather together the waters 
of the earth, so as to cause the dry land 
to appear, and bring forth grass, herbs 
and trees, and to be inhabited by both 
men and beasts % be pleased, therefore, 
likewise to remove all impure and un- 
holy desires and propensities of natu- 
ral depravity, from my soul, and ren- 
der it an acceptable dwelling place for 
thy good and Holy Spirit. 

Thou didst, moreover, on this day, 
command hy thine Almighty power* 
the earth to bring forth all manner of 
herbage and vegetation, to adorn the 
earth, and for food and sustenance to 
both thy rational and irrational crea- 
tures. Ingraft, also, in my heart, I be- 
seech Thee, O Lord, the immortal seed 
of thine incorruptible word, that I 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 293 

may thereby be made fruitful in all 
good works, and be begotten anew 
unto a lively hope of eternal life. 

Thou, O God, didst finally on this 
day, cause the earth to bring forth all 
manner of trees, to bear fruit accord- 
ing to their kind. Be pleased, O Ood, 
in like manner, to render iny soul a 
tree of righteousness, planted by thine 
own hand, in the vineyard of thy 
church, that it may bring forth all the 
pleasant fruits of the Spirit, faith, 
love, hope, meekness, patience, friend- 
ship and holiness, so that I may in due 
time, be transplanted into the heaven- 
ly Paradise, to partake among all the 
redeemed from among men, of the 
soul-satisfying fruits of glory, "which 
are ever found on the tree of life, 
Christ Jesus ; to whom, with Thee, O 
heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit, 
be all praise, honour and thanksgiv- 
ing forever and ever. — Amen. 

HYMN 33. S. M.— Kentucky. 

1 A charge to keep I have, 
A Ood to glorify ; 
A never-dying soul to save, 
And fit it for the sky. 

3 To serve the present age, 
My calling to fulfil ; 
O may it all my powers engage, 
To do my master's will. 



294 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 

3 Arm me with jealous care. 

As in thy sight to live ; 
And ©, thy servant, Lord, prepare, 
A strict account to give ! 

4 Help me to watch and pray, 

And on thyself rely, 
Assur'd if I my trust betray, 
I shall forever die. 



Evening devotions for Tuesday. 

HYMN 34. C. M. — Mount Pleasant. 

1 DOT Ood the spring of all my joys, 

The life of my delights, 
The glory of my brightest days, 
And comfort of my nights ! 

2 In darkest shades, if Thou appear, 

My da wning is begun ; [star, 

Thou art my soul's bright morning 
And Thou my rising sun. 

3 The opening heavens around me 

shine, 
With beams of sacred bliss, 
If Jesus shows his mercy's mine, 
And whispers I am his. 

4 Uly soul would leave this heavy clay, 

At that transporting word, 
Run up with joy the shining way, 
To see and praise my .Lord* 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. £95 

S Fearless of hell and ghastly death, 
I'd break through every foe ; 
The wings of love and arms of faith, 
Would bear mi e conqueror through. 

Our Father who art in heaven, this 
day is now past and gone, and num- 
bered with those beyond the flood, but 
I am yet in the land of the living, and 
permitted by thy grace to appear once 
more on praying ground and pleading 
terms before Thee. I would therefore, 
render unto Thee unfeigned thanks- 
giving and praise, for supplying all 
my returning wants, out of thy exhaust- 
less fulness of mercy and grace, through 
the past day ; although I have griev- 
ously offended against thy majesty, 
and therefore, rather deserve thy hot- 
test displeasure, than the exhibitions of 
thy grace. But I most humbly beseech 
Thee, for the sake of the precious blood 
of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, forgive me 
all my sins, and may his blood cleanse 
me from every pollution, and be pleased 
to clothe me with the robe of his inno- 
cence, that my transgressions may no 
more come up in judgment against me 
forever. 

Be pleased also, to take me into thy 
holy care and keeping, through the 
ensuing night. Watch over me, and 
all those who are near and dear unto 
me, and protect us from the common 



296 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 

enemy of mankind — §atan 9 from all the 
fears and dangers of the night, from 
sinful dreams, from the breaking in of 
enemies, from all accidents of fire and 
water, and from all manner of evil, as 
to soul and body. Be unto us, as a Trail 
of fire round about us, and preserve us 
as the apple of thine eye. 

Watch Thou over us, O Thou Guar- 
dian of Israel, who neither sleeps nor 
slumbers, and give thine holy angels 
charge over us, to preserve us in safety; 
so that w e may not only awake in the 
morning, and pursue the business of 
the day, with zeal and diligence ; but 
be also careful to make it the first bu- 
siness of the day, to send forth our 
praises unto Thee, and fervently im- 
plore the presence and guidance of thy 
good and Holy Spirit. 

And incline my heart, Heavenly Pa- 
rent, to esteem nothing in this world so 
highly as thy favour, and to hate no- 
thing so much as my sins, and to ever 
dread to excite thy wrath and displea- 
sure against me. 

Be pleased, also, graciously to pre- 
serve me from ever placing my happi- 
ness upon the transitory sands of vain 
glory, or the perishable objects of time 
and sense, and much less upon the fleet- 
ing gratifications of the sinful lusts of 
the flesh, which, as soon as the sun- 
shine of prosperity goes down, are past 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 297 

and gone, and with the light of life are 
extinguished forever. Grant © God, 
for this purpose that I may thoroughly 
realize, how fleeting are wordly riches, 
how foolish are the lusts of the flesh, 
ho ir inconstant are the honours of this 
world, how dangerous the breath of 
popularity, how vain and transitory is 
even life, how awful is death and judg- 
ment, and how strict Trill be the scru- 
tiny and stern the account, which I 
must render unto the Judge of the quick 
and the dead, of all my thoughts, words 
and deeds in this probationary state. 
Teach me by thy holy word and Spirit, 
that I have no continuing city here; 
but that I am a pilgrim and stranger 
here on earth, and to seek my birth- 
right in heaven, and, as I have hither- 
to, alas ! placed my desires upon the 
vain and trifling things of time and 
sense, and have thus spent my time and 
labour in vain ; I entreat Thee to in- 
cline my heart, to lift its affections to 
heaven and things divine, and to desire 
and long for nothing so much, as the 
gifts and graces of thy Spirit and ever- 
lasting life. Grant me grace, © Lord, 
to partake of that bread which cometh 
down from heaven, to strengthen me to 
work out my soul's salvation, with fear 
and trembling. 

And grant, that I may desire the ob- 
jects of this world, only to increase my 



298 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR TUESDAY. 

desires after the realities of eternity ; 
that I may employ the good things of 
this world, only in extending the 
hand of aid to the poor and needy, 
and abound more in all good works ; 
that I may desire health, only to be 
able to serve Thee with more cheerful- 
ness ; and strength and power that I 
may fight manfully against thine and 
mine enemies, and the prolonging of 
my days, that I may the longer con- 
tinue to show forth thy praise in the 
land of the living. 

And, O blessed Saviour, it was on this 
day, that Thou wert anointed, by the 
pious Mary, with precious ointment, 
and thy feet were bathed with tears, 
against thy burial ; O I beseech Thee, 
also, to anoint me more and more, 
with the oil of gladness, and the influ- 
ences of thy Spirit, to eternal life. 

On this day, also, did the rulers 
among the Jews, conspire together 
against thy life ; O deliver me now 
and at all times from the power of 
mine enemies, break asunder their 
bands, so that I may serve Thee all the 
days of my life in righteousness and 
true holiness, according to thy will. 

I commend, finally, all my dearest 
interests unto Thee 5 O preserve my life 
from all sickness and disease — my soul 
from all sinful dreams, lusts and de- 
sires, so that I may rest in Thee, and 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 299 

jrise in the morning with new vigor, to 
discharge the duties of the day in obe- 
dience to thy will and holy command- 
ments. And to the Father, Son and 
Holy Spirit, he all the praise, both 
now and forever. — Amen. 

HYMN 35. C. M.—St. John's. 

1 © God, thy gifts of tender love 

Are every evening new ; 
And morning mercies from above 
Distil like early dew* 

2 Thou spread- st the curtain of the 

night 
To guard our sleeping hours ; 
Thy sovereign word restores the light, 
And wakes our drowsy powers. 

3 We yield ourselves to thy command, 

To Thee devote our days ; 
For constant blessings from thy hand, 
Demand our constant praise. 



•Morning devotions for Wednesday. 

HY M N 36. L. M.— Newton. 

1 FROM every stormy wind that Mows. 
From every swelling tide of woes, 
There is a calm, a sure retreat, 

'Tis found beneath the Mercy Seat. 

2 There is a place where Jesus sheds 
The oil of gladness on our heads, 

A place than all besides more sweet — 
It is the blood-bought Mercy Seat. 



300 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 

3 There is a scene where spirits blend, 
Where friend holds fellowship with 

friend ; 
Tho' sunder'd far — by faith they meet 
Around our common Mercy Seat. 

4 Ah ! whither could we flee for aid, 
When tempted, desolate, dismay'd— 
Or how the host of hell defeat, 
Had suffering* saints no Mercy Seat ! 

5 There ! there, on eagle wings we soar : 
And sin and sense seem all no more, 
And heaven comes down our souls to 

greet, 
And glory crowns the Mercy Seat. 

6 Oh, let my hand forget her skill, 
My tongue be silent cold and still, 
This bounding heart forget to beat, 
If I forget the Mercy Seat. 

" The mercy of the Lord hath no end, 
but is renewed every morning, and great 
is his faithfulness." — Lam. 3. 38, 33. 

O most merciful Ood, Thou Father of 
eternal light and life ! I would call 
upon my soul, and all that is within 
me, to magnify and adore thy holy 
name, for permitting me to lay me 
down under the shadow of thine Al- 
mighty wings, and to sleep securely 
during the past night, and to arise this 
morning to behold the light of another 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 301 

day, in the enjoyment of my usual 
health and strength. 

O what is man that Thou shouldest 
be mindful of him, or the son of man 
that Thou shouldest set thine heart 
upon him ; Thou hast made all crea- 
tures for him, and didst especially, on 
this day, create tiro great lights, and 
didst place the Sun and the Moon in 
the firmament of heaven, to give light, 
both by day and by night, and to divide 
the seasons, years, months and days — 
to regulate his labours — to invigorate 
his body — to ripen the fruits of the earth, 
and to cause the earth to bring forth its 
products in rich abundance. Way, 
Thou didst present him with a light, 
yet infinitely more brilliant : even the 
light of thy prophetic word, and in or- 
der that he might behold the riches of 
thy goodness and thy grace, didst Thou 
cause the sun of righteousness to rise 
upon him, by his genial rays, to shine 
into his heart — to illuminate his under- 
standing — to quicken him to diligence 
in accomplishing thy will, and to make 
him a participator among the saints 
in light and glory, of those pleasures, 
which are at thy right hand forever- 
more. O God, I would sincerely rejoice 
in this light, and earnestly desire, that 
every recess of my soul may be pene- 
trated, by the gracious rays of this sun 
of righteousness. 



■ 



30£ MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 

I humbly acknowledge, that Thou 
hast laid me under infinite obligations 
to exalt Thee above all objects in the 
universe ; inasmuch as thou hast given 
me a preference to all other creatures ; 
that I am solemnly bound to love Thee 
with all my heart, because of thy lov- 
ing-kindness and tender compassion, 
exhibited continually towards me, and 
for making all other creatures subser- 
vient to my best interests ; and to return 
Thee unceasing praises and thanks- 
givings, as well as an unwavering obe- 
dience to all thy commandments, be- 
cause thy tender mercies are renewed 
unto me every morning, and thy faith- 
fulness returns every evening. I am, 
therefore, ashamed and confounded, 
when I reflect upon my past life and 
conduct, how utterly negligent I have 
been in the discharge of my duties to- 
wards Thee ; for how can I plead any 
excuse for my ingratitude and disobe- 
dience towards Thee? Shall I seek 
refuge under pretended ignorance of 
Thee and thy will ; but how can I, inas- 
much as the heavens declare thy glory 
and the firmament showeth forth thy 
handy work ? Shall I plead ignorance 
of thy laws ? Why Thou hast put thy 
word into my mouth, and hast engra- 
ven thy laws upon my heart. Shall I 
say that I have never heard of the light 
of thy gospel, when I know that it has 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY 303 

come into the world and hat li shined 
into darkness. O no, blessed God, the 
reason, alas ! is, that I have loved 
darkness better than light, because my 
deeds were evil. And beeanse of my 
evil deeds, Thou mightest have justly 
east me into outer darkness, where 
there is nothing but weeping and 
gnashing of teeth. But with Thee 
there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest 
be feared. There is yet balm in Gilead 
to heal all my wounds ; there is balm 
and healing in Christ Jesus, in his 
merits and obedience — salvation in his 
blood — hope in his resurrection— joy in 
his ascension into heaven — nay, ever- 
lasting comfort in his sitting at the 
Father's right hand, as my intercessor. 
O Thou divine Advocate ! be pleased 
to manage all my dearest interests and 
concerns. O blessed Saviour, out of 
whose opened side, there flows a pure 
and cleansing stream — purify Thou 
me from all filthiness of the flesh and 
spirit. Bless me with that peace which 
Thou hast promised to all thy dear 
people, that my heart may be relieved, 
alike from fear and despair. Recon- 
cile me with thy Father and my Father, 
with thy God and my God. 

And as all my hope is in thy unmerit- 
ed mercy, O may that mercy be a pat- 
tern for my continued imitation, in 
forgiving those who trespass against 



304 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 

me — in sympathizing with the weak 
and afflicted, to assist them in their 
necessities, comfort them nnder their 
crosses and tribulations, and aid them 
to bear their cross with patience. O 
Parent in heaven, may I, as thy obedi- 
ent child, continually tread in thy foot- 
steps, and as Thou didst, on this day, 
create the sun, which has just arisen 
to shine again, on the just and on the 
unjust, do Thou likewise, enable me to 
let the light of my knowledge, and the 
quickening rays of my love, expand 
towards all, but especially to the 
household of faith. As mine eyes 
now behold the precious light of the 
sun, so be pleased to draw off my 
thoughts and desires from the vain and 
ignoble things of time and sense, and 
place them on heaven and things di- 
vine, so that they may ever find their 
chief pleasure and happiness in Thee. 
And as the sun thaws the snow and 
ice, so in like manner, O Lord, melt 
Thou my icy and frozen heart, by the 
rays of thy grace, into true and un- 
feigned repentance. As the sun dispels 
and purifies all the dense fogs and in- 
jurious vapors, which float in the air, 
so may the gracious influence of thy 
good Spirit, dispel and banish from my 
benighted understanding, all the moral 
mists and fogs of error and unbelief, 
and purify the desires of my heart from 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 305 

sill manner of sin. As the sun runs his 
1111 deviating course in the heavens, so 
as to turn neither to the right nor the 
left, even so be pleased, O Lord, to 
guide and govern me, that I may con- 
tinually, run the way of thy command- 
ments, and never wander astray, into 
the forbidden paths of sin. 

As the sun continually ascends higher 
and higher, until it arrives at its meri- 
dian splendour, so enable me, O Lord, 
to increase continually in grace, right- 
eousness and true holiness, that I also, 
may shine as a light of the world, and 
be without spot and blemish, in the 
midst of a perverse and ungodly gene- 
ration, so that I may in due time, shine 
forth as the sun in the kingdom of thy 
glory. As finally the sun rejoices as a 
strong man to run a race, so may I run 
the race set before me, even unto the 
end, rejoicing in every dispensation of 
thy providence, that I may at last ob- 
tain the gracious reward of the right- 
eous, even a diadem of unfading glory, 
for Jesus Christ the Redeemer's sake, to 
whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, 
one God — be all honour, glory and do- 
minion forever and ever. — Amen. 

20 



506 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 

Evening devotions for IWednesday. 

H Y M N 37. P. M. Vs.— Sovereign Grace. 

1 SING, my soul his wondrous love, 
Who, from yon bright throne above. 
Ever watchful o'er our race, 

Still to man extends his grace. 

2 Heaven and earth by him were made, 
All is by his sceptre sway'd ; 

What are we that he should show 
So much love to us below ? 

3 God, the merciful and good, 
Bought us with the Saviour's blood ; 
And, to make our safety sure, 
Guides us by his Spirit pure. 

4 Sing, my soul — adore his name 
I*et his glory be the theme : 
Praise him till he calls thee home, 
Trust his love for all to come. 

" Blessed are the pure in hearty for they 
shall see God." — Mat. 5. 8. 

Most holy and adorable God I I hum- 
bly confess that I atn a sinful creature 
— that I am by nature a child of dark- 
ness, and as such, I am ashamed to lift 
up mine eyes to the place where thine 
honour dwelleth, inasmuch as I have 
sinned against Heaven and in thy sight, 
and have insulted thy majesty in times 
and ways without number, and have 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 307 

thereby justly deserved thy righteous 
judgments* Jffy conscience accuses and 
convinces me, that I have hitherto 
given the deceitful lusts of sensuality, 
which are all works of darkness, the 
preference; even to the inheritance 
among the saints in light; by suffering 
my reason, (which is the only remain- 
ing light I enjoy,) to be darkened by ig- 
norance and hardness of heart; and 
although Thou hast stretched out thine 
hands to awake me, both late and 
early, yet I have gone on in the vanity 
of mine own imaginations, and not 
followed the guidance of thy Holy 
Spirit, but the devices of mine own evil 
heart ; and have, therefore, richly de- 
served to be banished from thy presence, 
into outer darkness, where there is 
weeping and wailing and gnashing of 
teeth. Nay, if Thou wouldest even cast 
all my former transgressions into the 
unfathomable ocean of thy love, yet the 
sins which I have committed this day, 
alas ! are sufficient to merit my eternal 
condemnation. My disorderly passions 
— impure thoughts — foolish imagina- 
tions and idle conversation, together 
with the multitude of my unfruitful 
works, cast down my heart within me. 
I know not any apology to offer, O 
liord, for my shameful abuse of thy 
mercy, the criminal misimprovement 
of time, despising of thy grace, and ne- 



308 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 

greeting the manifold opportunities af- 
forded sue of doing good. O how ne- 
gligent have I been in the discharge of 
the duties of my calling ! How drowsy 
in the exercises of devotion ! How cold 
and indifferent in the confession of my 
sins ! How careless in the use and ap- 
plication of thy word, although it is 
the only sure means of healing the 
spiritual maladies of my soul ! Even 
the supplications and prayers which I 
direct to thy mercy seat, for the remo- 
val of my wants and necessities, and 
the healing of mine infirmities, are con- 
nected with many imperfections. O 
Lord, have mercy upon me, a poor 
miserable sinner. Enter not into judg- 
ment with me, for before Thee shall no 
flesh living be justified. Afford me, O 
Lord, a deep sense of my great folly 
and depravity; and awaken within 
me, an earnest desire after more en- 
gagedness in thy service— a hearty re- 
pentance for my past sins, and present 
hardness of heart ; and, inasmuch as I 
cannot pray unto Thee as I should, O 
cause thy Holy Spirit to make interces- 
sion for me, with groanings which 
cannot be uttered, and the blood of thy 
Son Jesus Christ to speak far better 
things for me, than the blood of Abel. 
O God, suffer not the glorious light of 
heaven to go down over thy wrath to- 
wards me, but be merciful towards me, 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 309 

for the alone sake of thine only be- 
gotten and well beloved Son, my Sa- 
viour and Redeemer, who alone is the 
atonement for our sins, so that my poor 
soul may this night, find peace and rest 
in Thee, as my wearied body may be 
refreshed and invigorated hy seasona- 
ble sleep, so shall I unintermittingly 
laud and magnify thy name, O Lord, 
my strength and my Redeemer, and 
with joy make known my unfeigned 
gratitude towards Thee, throughout 
all eternity, for thy unbounded love, in 
whieh Thou hast ehosen me before the 
foundation of the world ; for thy good- 
ness in whieh Thou hast created me 
anew, according to thine image ; for 
thine unspeakable mercy, in which 
Thou hast provided for my eternal sal- 
vation, through the blood of thy Son § 
for thine unmerited grace, in which 
Thou hast brought me the knowledge 
of the truth ; and for thy paternal pro- 
vidence, with which Thou hast pro- 
tected me i chastening me with mild- 
ness, and hast so bountifully supplied 
all my returning wants, until the pre- 
sent period of my existence. 

O blessed Jesus, Thou who wast sold, 
on this day, for thirty pieces of silver, 
like the most abject slave i O be pleased 
to deliver me, from the slavery of sin, 
and forbid that I ever should, like 
Ahab, sell myself to work iniquity. 



310 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDESNDAT. 

May my heart be so deeply impressed 
with the awful nature of this sin of Ju- 
das, as well as with the d eadful pun- 
ishment of it, that I may thereby, ever 
be deterred from betraying thy divine 
truth, or ever be induced to renounce 
my faith in Thee for any fascinating 
offers of a deceitful world, be they ever 
so great or alluring. 

And, O Thou Bread of Life, who 
didst endure hunger for my sake, and 
Thou Fountain of the waters of Leba- 
non, who didst for my sake, experience 
thirst ! O Thou Joy of mankind, who 
on my account, didst experience sor- 
row ! O thou who art Faithfulness and 
Truth itself! who for my sake wast be- 
trayed! O Thou Wedding Garment, 
which for my sins was laid off! O 
Thou Ransom for the sins of the whole 
world, who wast sold for my transgres- 
sions ! O thou Life and Resurrection 
of all who place their hope and trust in 
Thee, who didst die, to deliver me from 
death eternal ! O ingraft thy love, so 
deep in my heart, that neither hunger 
nor thirst, neither sufferings nor na- 
kedness, neither hope of reward nor 
fear of persecution, neither death nor 
life, may ever be able to eradicate it 
from my soul. 

O gracious Redeemer, Thou didst ex- 
ercise friendship towards deceptions 
Judas Iscariot, although, Thou didst 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WEDNESDAY. 311 

well know, that satan had entered into 
him, to instigate him to betray Thee, 
and didst even permit him to give 
Thee, the false and treacherous kiss % © 
how much more friendship wilt Thou 
manifest towards thy true friends, who 
love Thee with their whole hearts, and 
remain faithful unto Thee to the end ? 
If Thou wert friendly towards him, 
who was full of deception and hypo- 
crisy towards Thee ; O what grace and 
loving-kindness may such anticipate 
at thy hand, who cleave unto Thee 
with all their hearts ? 

Now blessed Lord ! as thou searchest 
and desirest the heart above all things, 
and wilt not accept either of our offer- 
ings or services, without they proceed 
from the sincerity of soul ; O give me 
such a heart, which is purified from 
all hypocrisy, and renew in me, a right 
and obedient spirit, in order that I 
may offer unto Thee, according to thy 
will, the sacrifice of such a heart, as is 
well-pleasing in thy sight, of a heart, 
the thoughts of which are pure — the 
desires holy — the undertakings upright 
— so that all my words and works, may 
proceed from a pure heart, and my 
heart may not, on the great day, when 
all the secret thoughts and intents of 
the heart, shall be revealed, condemn 
me; but that it may be accepted of 
Thee, O Ood, and be filled with that 



312 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

fullness of joy, which no eye hath seen, 
no ear hath heard, and which has 
never entered into the heart of man to 
conceive, for Jesus 9 sake, in whose 
name, and upon whose command and 
in whose words, we further call upon 
Thee, as — Our Father, &c. — Amen. 



•Morning Devotions for Thursday. 

HYMN 38. H. M.— Amherst. 

1 UPWARD I lift mine eyes, 

From God is all my aid ; 
The God that built the skies, 
And earth and nature made : 

God is the tow'r to which I fly ; 

His grace is nigh in ev'ry hour. 

2 Uly feet shall never slide, 
And fall in fatal snares, 

Since God, my guard and guide, 
Defends me from my fears. [sleep, 

Those wakeful eyes which never 
Shall Israel keep, when dangers 
rise. 

3 No burning heats by day, 
Nor blasts of ev'ning air, 
Shall take my health away, 

If God be with me there : [shade, 

Thou art my sun, and Thou my 
To guard my head by night or 
noon. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 313 

4 Han Tliou not giv'n thy \% ord< 
To §ave my soul from death? 
And I can trust my Lord 
To keep my mortal breath : 

I'll go and come, nor fear to die, 
Till from on high Thou call me 
home. 

44 The Lord is nigh unto all them that 
call upon him, to all that call upon him 
in truth* He will fulfil the desire of them 
that fear him •• he also will hear their cry, 
and will save them." — Ps. I4#>. 18, 19. 

O holy and righteous Ood ! who lia- 
test the workers of iniquity and art 
alone merciful unto those who fear and 
love thee, who extendest thy fatherly 
protection unto all who trust in thee, 
and providcst for all who cast their 
care upon Thee. I would love and 
praise thy holy name, and render Thee 
cordial thanks, for protecting me in 
safety through the past night, and per- 
mitting me to awake this morning, in 
the enjoyment of perfect health and 
strength. I acknowledge, O Lord! 
with the profoundest humility, that if 
I had laid me down to sleep without 
thy protection, many accidents and 
dangers might have befallen me ; but 
under thy preserving care, I have en- 
joyed the refreshing repose of another 
night, and am now prepared to enter 



314 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

upon the discharge of tlte labours and 
duties of ray calling with cheerfulness. 

I cordially beseech Thee therefore 
to lift upon nie the light of thy counte- 
nance, so that I may not be tempted to 
turn aside from the path of duty, nei- 
ther hy the natural depravity of my 
heart, or the example of the ungodly, 
but that I may carefully follow the 
light of thy blessed word, and studi- 
ously regulate all my thoughts, words 
and deeds this day, according to thy 
word and will. Criiide me, O Lord ! 
by thy Holy Spirit, into all truth, and 
preserve me from all evil ; may thy fear 
be continually before mine eyes, so that 
I may improve this and all the succeed- 
ing days of my life to thine honour, 
and to the peace of mine own con- 
science. 

Increase within me the gifts of faith 
and hope, that I may continually exer- 
cise a filial confidence in thy promises, 
which are yea and amen, in Christ 
Jesus, unto thy people, and in mercy 
prevent it that I should either by care- 
lessness or the pride of the fiesh, or any 
other temptation, forfeit a gracious as- 
surance of reconciliation with Thee, 
through the precious blood of thy dear 
son. l>issipate the thick and impure 
vapours of my depraved heart, which 
wounds my soul, darkens my mind, 
perverts my will, and inclines my af- 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. SI 5 

flections and desires to evil. Purify my 
soul, body and spirit by breathing forth 
upon nte the influences of thy Hely 
Spirit, and assure me continually, that 
I am thy child, and that thou art my 
Abba Father, and very present help in 
every time of need. 

And inasmuch as I am a great sin- 
ner, and have often grievously offend- 
ed Thee, not only through thoughtless- 
ness ; but also by sinning against better 
light and knowledge, and the revealed 
testimony of thy holy word and Spirit, 
to the great injury of my soul, and in- 
sulting of thy majesty and have thereby 
rendered myself unworthy of thy grace 
and favour, O be pleased not to look 
down upon me, in my unworthiness, 
but look upon me in the face of thine 
annointed Son Jesus, my Saviour. 

To thine unbending justice which 
cries for vengeance upon me, I would 
oppose, his bitter sufferings and excru- 
ciating death. O be pleased holy Fa- 
ther in Heaven, to accept of these as a 
ransom front all my sins. Blot them 
all out of the book of thy wrath with 
his crimson blood, so that they may 
never be remetnbered against me, and 
seal unto my soul, by thy Holy Spirit, 
the free forgiveness of all mine iniqui- 
ties, to the peace and joy of my con- 
science, unto the day of perfect re- 
demption. 



316 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

It was on this day, O Lord, that thou 
didst create the sea and other waters 
with all manner of fish, and also the 
air, which thou didst fill with an in- 
numerable multitude and variety of 
fowls i may I enjoy grace at thy hand, 
therefore, to contemplate the glorious 
works of thine almighty power, wis* 
dom and goodness, so as to ascend up 
in my affections and desires from the 
creature, to the all-wise, omnipotent 
and bountiful Creator of all these 
things, which thou hast brought into 
existence for our comfort and subsis- 
tence. 

Nay, O Ood! as Thou didst, on this 
day, render the waters fruitful, even so 
make me also fruitful hy thy word and 
Spirit, in all good words and works. 
As Thou didst on this day create the 
fowls, that they might fly through the 
air ; in like manner elevate, also, my 
soul, so that it may ascend on the 
wings of faith and hope, even unto 
Thee, and seek those things which are 
on high — where is fulness of joy and 
pleasures forevermore. 

Finally, as the fowls of heaven know 
their appointed time when to come, 
and when to go ; O L<ord grant me also 
thy grace, so that I, as a rational and 
intelligent creature, may know the 
time of my gracious visitation, and 
work out my soul's salvation with fear 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 317 

and trembling, so that I may at last be 
received into the mansions of eternal 
glory. All of which* I ask of Thee, 
in the name and for the sake of mine 
only Intercessor and Redeemer, J esus 
Christ, to whom, with Thee, and the 
Holy Ghost, be eternal praises. — Amen* 



Evening devotions for Thursday. 

HYMN 39. C. M.— Clifford. 

1 TO Zion's hill I lift mine eyes, 

From thence expecting aid % 
From Z ion's hill, and Zion's God, 
Who heav'n and earth has made. 

2 Thou, then, my soul in safety rest, 

Thy guardian will not sleep ; 
His watchful care that Israel guards, 
Will thee in safety keep. 

3 Sheltered beneath th' Almighty's 

wings, 
Thou shalt securely rest ; [thee 

Where neither sun nor moon shall 
By day or night molest. 

4 At home, abroad, in peace, in war, 

Thy God shall thee defend ; [mage, 
Conduct thee through life's pilgri- 
Safe to thy journey's end. 

" Wherefore, let them that suffer accor- 
ding to the will of God, commit the keep* 



318 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

ing of their souls to him in welt doing* as 
unto a faithful Creator*" — 1 Pet* 4. 19. 

Almighty God and compassionate 
Father in heaven ! I thank thy great 
and holy name, for all the exhibitions 
of thy goodness and thy grace, unto me 
as to soul and body, and especially for 
thy kind protection afforded me 
through the day which is just past and 
gone. I have enjoyed another day to 
repent and prepare for the final day of 
retribution, but alas! how little good 
have I done ! I entreat Thee, O Ood ! 
in the multitude of thy tender mercies, 
to forgive me, for Jesus 9 sake, all my 
sins and blot out all mine iniquities. 

On this evening didst Thou, O blessed 
Redeemer, eat the passover, with thy 
disciples, in which they received Thee, 
by faith, to the nourishment of their 
souls. O be pleased, likewise, to come 
in unto me, and sup with me, in this 
life, so that I may at last be accounted 
worthy to sit at thy table, with Abra- 
ham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom 
of thy glory. 

It was, likewise, on the evening of 
this day, O compassionate Saviour ! 
that Thou didst give thyself unto thy 
disciples in the sacrament of thy sup- 
per, and on the day following didst of- 
fer thyself for me on the cross % © there- 
fore, be pleased to grant me a true and 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 319 

living faitli, also to apprehend and 
apply tliy crucified body and shed 
blood unto my never-dying soul. 

Grant that I may be encouraged by 
thy agony and fear — that I may be 
comforted by thy deadly conflict — that 
I may be clothed by thy nakedness — 
that I may be reprieved by means of 
thy sentence unto death — that I maybe 
purified from all my sins by thy blood 
— that I may be healed by thy wounds 
— and that I may be made alive by thy 
death. Forbid it, O Lord, that I, (who 
cost that precious blood, which flowed 
so freely on Calvary,) should ever be 
plucked out of thy hand, or that thy 
blood should have been shed, and thy 
sighs and lamentations vented in vain. 

But grant, blessed Jesus, that thy 
agony and bloody sweat and conflict, 
thy voluntary surrender of thyself into 
the hands of thine enemies, thy bands, 
the accusation and sentence passed 
upon Thee, the disrobing and scourg- 
ing of Thee, the crowning of Thee with 
a crown of thorns in token of mock 
royalty, the smiting Thee upon the 
cheek, the mockery and shame which 
thou didst endure, together with thy 
agony blood and death, on the ac- 
cursed cross, may all be effectual to 
my soul's salvation. 

And O Thou dear Redeemer ! what 
should I be ready and willing to suffer 



320 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

for Thee, in return for all that Thon 
didst endure in body and soul, both in 
the garden and on the cross for my sake, 
when the united powers of earth and 
hell bore down on Thee and the wrath 
of almighty God drank up thy spirit ? 
insomuch that all nature was con- 
vulsed, and sympathized with Thee in 
thy sufferings and death ? 

© any liord and my God ! who hast 
called me unto the knowledge of thy 
divine truth ; nay by thy Holy Spirit, 
and the nails with which Thou wast 
nailed to the cross, hast ingrafted thy 
love deep in my heart ; grant that in 
future nothing may be able to separate 
me from Thee, and thy love, neither 
tribulation nor anguish, nor persecu- 
tion ; neither height nor depth ; neither 
the present nor that which is to come, 
neither life nor death ; but that I may 
be most firmly assured, that all these 
things must work together for good to 
me, and to all who love Thee in sin- 
cerity and truth. 

O Thou divine Saviour ! I could not 
endure a thousandth part for Thee, of 
that which Thou didst endure for me ; 
I could not endure the lightest punish- 
ment which my sins have merited; 
much less that which would merit 
eternal life. All the tribulations of the 
present life, are not worthy to be com- 
pared to the glory, which shall be re- 



EVENING DEVOTION* FOR THURSDAY. 321 

vealed in me and all thy believing chil- 
dren, in a coining world, for these are 
temporal, whereas the other is eternal. 
These are the common lot of the chil- 
dren of Ood, in the school of discipline 
of the travellers to Mount Zion — the me- 
dicine of the soul — the seal of love and 
excitement to devotion, a trial of the 
faith — the exercise of my patience, a 
proof of my steadfastness, and an un- 
erring evidence of my assimulation 
unto Thee. And am I chastised — it is 
only that I may be judged of Thee, so 
that I may not be finally condemned 
with an ungodly world ; shall tribula- 
tion, or bonds, or imprisonment, or 
banishment into misery, nay even 
death, be able to separate me from thy 
love, O Lord ? O no !— I know, full well, 
that without thy permission, they can- 
not befal me — that thy mercy can sweet- 
en them, and that they are set apart in 
thy love, for the advancement of my 
best interests ; nay, that they all tend, 
much more, to bring me into commu- 
nion with Thee, than to separate me 
from thy love. 

How should I, therefore, deny Thee, 
who hast purchased me with so vast a 
price ? Why should I grieve thy Holy 
Spirit, who comforts me in all my suf- 
ferings? How can I set a superficial 
value upon thy blood, when it was the 
infinite price paid down for my re- 

21 



322 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR THURSDAY. 

demption ? O how can I any more of* 
fend Thee, blessed Saviour ! inasmuch 
as Thou art my peace, and by thy blood, 
hast reconciled me with thine offended 
Father! Nay, how can I ever be for- 
getful of Thee, who art ever, and in all 
places so mindful of me ? Thou art my 
€*uide in all my ways — Thou art my 
Cfuardian when at home — my Interces- 
sor and Advocate in prayer — my Com- 
fort in tribulation — Thou openest thy 
munificent hand and suppliest my table 
with food — and commandest thy bene- 
diction upon all the work of mine 
hands. I would, therefore, O heavenly 
Parent! commend unto thine unva- 
ried goodness and kind protection, my 
body, soul and spirit, through the en- 
suing night, and cordially beseech 
Thee, to spread over me the protecting 
banners of thy love, so that I may en- 
joy a comfortable repose, and awake 
in the morning refreshed and invigo- 
rated for the duties of the day, and 
grant unto me, the guidance of thy 
Holy Spirit, that in all I undertake or 
do, whether asleep or awake, whether 
labouring or enjoying rest, whether I 
go up or down, I may do all under thy 
gracious governance, in thy fear, and 
to the praise and honour of thy most 
holy name, for the alone sake of Jesus 
Christ, my strength and my Redeemer, 
in whose words I would again conclude 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 323 

my prayer, by calling on Thee, as Our 
Father, who art in heaven, &c. — Amen. 



• Horning devotions for Friday. 

HYMN 40. L. M.— Kimbolten. 

1 TO God, the universal King, 

I^et all mankind their tribute bring; 
All that have breath, your voices 

raise, 
In songs of never-ceasing praise. 

2 The spacious earth on which we 

tread, [head, 

And wider heav'ns streach'd o'er our 
A large and solemn temple frame, 
And celebrate its Builders fame. 

3 Here the bright sun that rules the 

day, [way; 

As through the sky he makes his 
To all the world proclaims aloud, 
The boundless sovereignty of C*od. 

4 When from his courts the sun retires, 
And with the day his voice expires, 
The moon and stars adopt the song, 
And through the night his praise 

prolong. 

5 The listening earth with rapture 

hears [spheres ; 

Th' harmonious music of the 



324 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 

And all her tribes the notes repeat, 
That God is wise, and good, and 
great. 

6 Bat man, endow'd with nobler 
pow'rs, 
His God in nobler strains adores : 
His is the gift to know the song, 
As well as sing with tuneful tongue* 

''But it is good for me to draw near to 
God: I hare put my trust in the JLord 
God, that I may dectare all thy works." — 
Fs. 73. 28. 

O merciful God and heavenly Fa- 
ther ! Creator of all things, and judge 
of all mankind ! Thou great and ex- 
alted God! I, thy unworthy servant, 
(or hand-maid,) eonfess freely, and 
with a broken heart, that I am a great 
and grievous sinner ; alas ! I was not 
only coneeived and born in sin, but 
have also coneeived sin in my heart, 
and brought it forth in my whole life, 
as my daily work 5 so that if I were to 
attempt to justify myself in thy sight 
I should be covered with shame and 
confusion of face, and anticipate thy 
everlasting wrath and displeasure. 
Inasmuch, however, as I learn from 
thy holy word, that Thou art a merci- 
ful and gracious God — long-suffering 
and forgiving of iniquities, transgres- 
sions and sins — that Thou wilt be found 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 325 

merciful unto all who seek Thee in sin- 
cerity, and call on Thee in humility of 
soul, for mercy and forgiveness; and 
that a full and perfect satisfaction has 
been made unto all the demands of thy 
justice, by the ignominious and excru- 
ciating death of thy innocent Son 
Jesus, our only Mediator and Saviour, 
which he endured on this day of the 
weeks I would therefore, approach 
unto Thee with the most unwavering 
confidence, and beseech Thee to for- 
give me all my great, grievous and 
manifold sins. Forgive me, O God, for 
the sake of this thy Son, all the sin in 
which I was conceived and born, and 
those which I have committed against 
thy will and commandments, during 
my life until the present period of my 
existence; for I would exercise im- 
plicit faith in Thee, and sincerely de- 
sire to amend my life and conduct. 
Thou didst on this day, pay down the 
ransom for my soul, so that neither 
satan, death nor hell, nor damnation 
have any claims upon me, nor shall 
ever bring me into condemnation. 

I thank Thee, also, O God, for all thy 
great and incomprehensible benefits, 
Thou hast bestowed upon me, both as 
to body and soul, and especially, for 
permitting sue to rest securely, as in the 
arms of thy love, and under the shadow 
of thy wings, and guardianship of thy 



326 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 

holy angels, through the past night, 
and hast permitted me to arise in 
health and strength, to behold the 
light of this morning. Teach me, O 
Lord, from day to day, how to success- 
fully withstand all my sinful propen- 
sities, and to crucify the lusts of the 
flesh. Assist me foy thy grace, to with- 
stand the evil desires of the flesh, and to 
offer all the faculties of my soul and 
body, as instruments of righteousness, 
that they may become holy, O God, as 
Thou art holy. 

O Almighty Creator and gracious 
Redeemer of mankind ! I would lift 
my hands and eyes to Thee, whose 
hands, on this day, created me. I would 
lift my heart up unto Thee, whose heart 
was, on this day, pierced with the fatal 
spear, for my sins; nay, I would lift 
my body and soul to Thee, whose body 
and soul, were lifted up upon the fatal 
tree, as a perfect offering for the sins of 
all who come unto God, by the merits 
of thine atoning blood. O gracious 
God, may those hands by which I was 
created, be ever extended to my assist- 
ance in all the trials and labours of this 
wearisome pilgrimage on earth. May 
those arms which were eiLtend.e^L on the 
cross, be laid underneath and round 
about me, so that I may be so united 
with Thee, that nothing may ever be 
able to separate me from thy love. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 327 

© Thou faithful Creator, who didst 
at first, create me out of nothing, pre- 
serve me by thy grace, from rendering 
myself worse than nothing. O Thou 
gracious Redeemer, who didst save 
that which was lost ; suffer not those 
whom Thou hast redeemed to come 
short of thy salvation. Although the 
wiles of satan are great, yet Messed be 
thy name, thy goodness and thy grace 
are far greater — although my sins are 
many and awful in thy sight, yet 
where sins abound, thy grace much 
more abounds. O forbid, that the work 
of thy grace, should be interrupted, or 
thine image, which Thou hast com- 
menced engraving upon my heart, 
should be ever, on account of my sins, 
blotted out. Thou hast, O Lord, done 
much good unto me — although I pos- 
sessed, in creation, light, yet by my sins 
have I turned this light into darkness ; 
but thou hast again turned my dark- 
ness into light — although Thou didst 
create me free, yet I plunged myself 
into slavery, but by thy word and Spirit, 
Thou hast again set me at liberty — al- 
though I was created happy, yet I 
thrust myself into abject misery, but 
Thou hast, hy thy suffering and death, 
instated me in more than original 
happiness ; yes, O Lord, my loss has, by 
thy grace, become my unspeakable 
gain, inasmuch as thou hast exalted 



328 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 

me, by thy redemption, higher than I 
was before my fall, as Thou hast re- 
deemed me not only from death, but 
unto an everlasting and unchangeable 
inheritance, to a glorious crown of life 
in thy kingdom, to pleasures and feli- 
cities, which no eye hath seen, no ear 
hath heard, and which have never en- 
tered into the heart of man to conceive* 
How can I, O l<ord, ever make suitable 
returns of gratitude to thee, for thy 
goodness unto me s most assuredly 
should I keep those eyes pure, which 
are to behold thy majesty; to conse- 
crate my ears to thy praise, which are 
to hear inexpressible things ; and to 
preserve my heart from all sinful lusts 
and inclinations, which is to enjoy 
such pleasures as have never entered 
into the heart of man. Grant O God, 
that I may ever be mindful of these 
duties, and that I may be ever will- 
ing and ready to put them into fulfil- 
ment* 

O heavenly Parent! Thou art the 
holy one in Israel, who didst create 
me in righteousness and holiness 5 © 
Jesus ! Thou Holy ILanth of God, who 
hast redeemed me, that I may serve 
Thee in holiness all the days of my 
life 5 O Holy Spirit, Thou holy and 
blessed Gift of the Most High, Thou 
who hast sanctified and delivered me 
from the slavery of sin, and hast call- 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 329 

ed me to a participation of the inher- 
itance of the saints in light, that I may 
already be holy here, so that I may be 
perfectly holy and happy in heaven 
hereafter. O Thou Holy Trinity ! 
sanctify me entirely, so that my whole 
body, soul and spirit may be preserved 
blameless, unto the day of perfect re- 
demption. Faithful art Thou, O God, 
who hast called me from darkness 
unto light, O therefore, be pleased to 
do for me, abundantly more and better 
things than I am able to ask or am 
worthy to receive, for Jesus 9 sake, to 
whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, 
be all honour and praise, both now 
and forever. — Amen. 



Evening devotions for Friday. 

H YMN 41. C. M.— Arundel. 
1. 

YE that obey th' immortal King, 

Attend his holy place % 
Bow to the glories of his pow'r, 

And bless his wondrous grace. 

a. 

"Lift up your hands by morning light, 
And send your souls on high ; 

Raise your admiring thoughts by night, 
Above the starry sky. 



330 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 

3. 

The God of Zion cheers our hearts 
With rays of quick'ning grace ; 

The God that spread the heavens 
abroad , 
And rules the swelling* seas. 

" Cause me to hear thy loving '-kindness 
in the morning $ for in Thee do I trust •• 
cause me to know the way wherein I 
should walk $ for I lift my soul to Thee." 
— Ps. 143, 8. 

© merciful, gracious God, and ever 
faithful Redeemer ! Thou who didst, 
on this day, at first create and then re- 
deem man — Thou didst at first blow 
the breath of life into his nostrils, and 
didst afterwards, for his sake, thyself 
give up the ghost and die. Exhibit 
thyself towards me as a faithful Crea- 
tor, to provide for thine own work, 
and as an Almighty Saviour, to pre- 
serve that which Thou hast purchased 
with thy blood. Permit not thy hatred 
against sin, to extinguish thy love to- 
wards me, thy creature, or my trans- 
gressions to prevent the operations of 
the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ, 
upon my soul. 

I readily acknowledge, O blessed 
Jesus, that my sins have merited the 
displeasure of thy heavenly Father, 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. 331 

but Thou hast inade an atonement for 
me — my foolish and sinful lusts and 
desires, migiit well have brought down 
the severest ehastisement upon me, but 
Thou hast permitted them to fall upon 
Thee. I>eath would have been the just 
wages of mine iniquities, but Thou 
didst suffer this dreadful penalty in my 
stead. 

On this day, did my first father Adam, 
beeome a living soul, but Thou O bless- 
ed Saviour, didst as the seeond Adam, 
give up the ghost. 

On this day, Adam in the garden of 
Paradise, violated the eommand of 
God — and on this day, in another gar- 
den, thy soul on this aeeount, was sor- 
rowful, even unto death. On this day, 
Adam reached forth his hand, and 
partook of the forbidden fruit of the 
tree of knowledge of good and evil ; 
and on this day, wast Thou, for this 
cause, lifted up upon the fatal tree of 
the accursed cross. 

On this day, Adasn fell into a deep 
sleep — his side was opened, and Eve as 
the companion of his bosom, was 
created out of his rib, as flesh of his 
flesh and bone of his bone ; and in like 
manner, on this day did the sleep of 
death fall upon Thee, O Jesus, thy side 
was opened, whence proceeded thy be- 
loved bride, the church which Thou 
didst purchase with thy blood. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY 

On this day Adam brought upon hint- 
self and his offspring, a tremendous 
curse i and on this day, O beloved Je- 
sus, didst Thou purchase for us, as 
members of tliy body, an everlasting 
benediction. Thou didst restore all, 
and more than Adam lost. Alas ! how 
sorely didst Thou suffer, for that which 
he thoughtlessly passed over % for Thou 
didst pay down the ransom for all his 
and our sins and transgressions. 

O JLord Jesus ! be pleased to grant me 
the hand of faith, that I may receive a 
sufficiency of this, thine infinite merit, 
to satisfy for the enormous amount, 
and to remove far from me the grievous 
burden of my sins ; strengthen Thou 
those hands of faith, that I may lift 
them up to thy heavenly Father, and 
receive from his hand a free and full 
remission of all mine iniquities, signed 
by thy blood, and ratified and confirm- 
ed by thy cross, on which Thou didst, 
ou^ this day, finish the work of our re- 
demption. I believe, O Lord Jesus, do 
Thou strengthen my faith ; for on this 
condition, Thou hast promised me a 
participation of thyself and all the 
merits of thy blood ; if Thou hadst re- 
quired even much more at our hands, 
it would have been our bounden duty 
to render it to Thee, in order to ran- 
som our souls 5 how much more are 
we, therefore, bound to render Thee 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR FRIDAY. S33 

unfeigned obedience, when Thou com- 
manded ns to "believe and live:" to 
cast our confidence entirely upon Thee, 
and Thou wilt deliver us from all evil; 
to lay hold of the ransom money that 
Thou hast paid for us ; to cease to do 
evil and learn to do well, and enjoy 
peace with God, life and salvation, 
nay, thyself, with all the treasures and 
pleasures which are at thy right-hand 
forevermore. 

O Thou divine Saviour ! on this day 
thy sufferings all terminated, and on 
the evening of this day, were all thy 
pains and miseries laid in the grave. 
O grant that all my sufferings and 
anxieties may now also end, and per- 
mit me to enjoy a sweet and refreshing 
repose, during the silent watches of the 
present night. 

Thou, O God, didst permit Adam, in 
Paradise, to sink into a deep sleep, from 
which Thou didst, in mercy, speedily 
awake him, nay, Thou, O Lord, didst, 
on this day, sink into the sleep of death 
on the cross ; and didst rise again on the 
third day, in a triumphant manner, 
from the slumbers of the grave ; O per- 
mit me, also, to sleep securely, as under 
thy protection, and awaken on the 
coming morning, refreshed and in- 
vigorated, so a.s to engage in, and pro- 
secute the duties of the day with cheer- 
fulness. Strengthen then Thou my 



334 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

soul, with faith in thy resurrection, 
and wake up my sleeping- dust, in the 
last day, to everlasting life — to the en- 
joyment of thy everlasting kingdom, 
which Thou hast prepared for all who 
cordially love and serve Thee. 

O Thou God of Peace ! who hast 
brought again from the dead, the 
great Shepherd of thy sheep, by the 
blood of the everlasting covenant! 
Make me ready for every good word 
and work, to accomplish thy will and 
create within me whatever is pleasing 
in thy sight, through Jesus Christ, to 
whom, with Thee and the Spirit of all 
grace, be all the praise, power, majes- 
ty and glory forever and ever, — Amen. 



Jfloming devotions for Saturday. 

HYMN 42. L. M.— Russia. 

1 GREAT God, indulge my humble 

claim, 
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; 
The glories that compose thy name 
Stand all engaged to make me blest. 

2 Thou Great and Good, Thou Just 

and Wise, 
Thou art my Father and my God ; 
And I am thine by sacred ties, 
Thy son, thy servant, bought with 

blood. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 335 

3 With early feet I love V appear 
Among- thy saints and seek thy face ; 
Oft have I seen thy glory there, 
And felt the pow'r of sovereign grace. 

4 Not fruit nor wines that tempt our 

taste, 
Nov all the joys our senses know, . 
Could make me so divinely blest, 
Or raise my cheerful passion so* 

5 My life itself without thy love 

IVo taste of pleasure could afford ; 
'T would but a tiresome burden prove, 
If I were banish' d from the Lord. 

6 Amidst the wakeful hours of night, 
When busy cares afflict my head, 
One thought of thee gives new delight, 
And adds refreshment to my bed. 

7 I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, 
While I h a ve breath to pray or praise ; 
This work shall make my heart re- 
joice, 

And spend the remnant of my days. 

" *1§ the heart panteth after the water 
brooks, so panteth my sout after Thee, O 
God* JfKy sout thirst eth for €wod $ when 
shall I come and appear before God." 
— Ps. 42. 1, 2. 

O Thou holy God and compassionate 
Father I how shall I repay all thy bene- 
fits, bestowed upon me from my earliest 



336 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

infancy to the present period of my life I 
How shall I render suitable thanksgiv- 
ing for thy unmerited goodness exhi- 
bited unto me, especially in permitting 
me to rest securely under the banners 
of thy love, during the past night, and 
to arise to behold the light of this morn- 
ing, in health and comfort? Thou per- 
mittest me, O God, to number one week 
of my existence, after another, until I 
at my appointed time, shall arrive at 
the rest which Thou hast appointed for 
thy people, when I shall be permitted 
to enter into thy everlasting kingdom. 
Remit, O Holy Father, all my sins, with 
which I have offended Thee — trans- 
gressed thy commandments, wounded 
my conscience, and injured my fellow 
creatures, may I commence the duties 
of this day, in the enjoyment of thy fa- 
vour, and the aid of thy Holy Spirit, so 
as to spend it in thy service. 

O Thou omnipotent Creator of 
heaven and earth ! who didst, on this 
day, rest from all thy labours, and 
blessed and hallowed it, permit me, 
also, after this wearisome pilgrimage 
shall have terminated, to enjoy a sweet 
and uninterrupted rest with Thee in 
heaven, where I shall enjoy an eternal 
Sabbath — celebrate an unending jubi- 
lee — sing an everlasting hallelujah — 
wear an unfading crown — receive an 
incorruptible inheritance — and enjoy 



MORN1KG DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 33? 

a fullness of joy and pleasures with 
Thee forevermore. 

O Lord Buy CJod I niay this rest be ever 
tlie object of my chief desires, the pearl 
of great price, which £ long for, the 
wished-for haven, towards which my 
desires, hy the guidance of thy Spirit, 
are directed. Draw off the desires of 
my heart from ail vain and perishable 
objects, and place them entirely upon 
heaven and things divine % burst asuii« 
der the bands, by which my affections 
have heen. fettered to the sublunary 
and fleeting objects of time and sense, 
and unite them even unto Thee, in 
righteousness and true holiness. Con- 
tinue and increase in my soul, a deadly 
hatred to all evil and poisonous fruits 
of the flesh, and a sincere hunger for 
the fruit of the Tree of Life, the grace of 
thy Holy Spirit. Forbid that I should 
seek rest, under the transitory shadow 
of a withering gourd, like Jonah, but 
may I seek my rest under the wide- 
spread shadow of thy cross. Forbid 
that I should, like tHe fteuhenites of 
old, desire to take up my abode on this 
side of Jordan; but grant unto me a 
safe passage through the crimson flood, 
which flowed from the sacred head, 
hands, feet and side of thy dear Son my 
Saviour, into the heavenly Canaan % 
and, inasmuch as I cannot enter upon 
immortality, but by the endurance of 

22 



338 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

temporal death, O be pleased to smooth 
my way down to the chambers of the 
grave— banish from me all fear of 
death, and may I realize, that his sting: 
is taken away. Assure me, for this 
purpose, that death shall not harm me ; 
but that I shall, thereby, be delivered 
from all crosses, anxieties, pain, sin 
and death, and be introduced into un- 
interrupted joy — inexpressible honour 
and immortality, and the enjoyment of 
such felicity, as eye hath not seen, ear 
hath not heard and as has never en- 
tered into the heart of man to conceive ; 
that the vanities of this transitory 
world shall no sooner fade away be- 
fore mine eyes, than I shall be sur- 
rounded with happiness and glory; 
that instead of this frail tenement of 
clay, in which I at present sojourn, I 
shall enter into the City of God, whose 
streets are paved with gold, whose 
gates are set with pearls, and whose 
walls are built with precious stones: 
that instead of a few friends, which I 
leave behind, these mine eyes shall be- 
hold Thee, the omnipotent and glo- 
rious God, in all thy majesty — Thee my 
dear Redeemer in the refulgence of thy 
glory — Thee, the Comforter of my soul, 
the Holy Ghost in all thy holiness — the 
holy angels and arch-angels in all their 
splendour — all the redeemed from 
among men, shining like the bright- 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. SS9 

ness of the firmament, and like the 
stars in the kingdom of heaven, in per- 
fect felicity — where I shall no more suf- 
fer hunger, or thirst, or labour, or toil, 
or any pain or want — where I shall no 
more need any speeial dwelling, inas- 
much as the heaven of heavens will 
constitute my everlasting dwelling- 
place — nor any speeial temple, as God 
himself shall be my temple— nor any 
light, as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, 
will be my light. 

O gracious God ! may the hope and 
desire after this blessed rest, sweeten 
all my labours and toils — lighten all 
my crosses and tribulations, and de- 
liver me from all my sorrows and af- 
flictions. May my heart be, thereby, 
strengthened so that I may never grow 
■weary in the discharge of the arduous 
duties of my calling, or faint under 
heavy crosses and temptations, but go 
on joyfully, and persevere even unto 
the end, until I at last arrive in the 
possession of the much wished and 
longed for land of promise — receive 
from thy hand the allotment of my 
blessed inheritance, and with all holy 
angels and redeemed ones, praise, laud 
and magnify thy holy name forever 
and ever, through Jesus Christ my Sa- 
viour and Redeemer. — Amen. 



340 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

Evening devotions for Saturday. 

HYMN 43. 8's. & Vs.^-Bartimeous. 

f Hot %m 

1 COME Thou fount of every blessing, 
Tune my heart to sing- thy grace ; 
Streams of mercy never ceasing, 

Call for songs of loudest praise i 
Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
Sung by flaming tongues above: 
Praise the mount — I'm fixed upon it, 
Mount of God- s unchanging love* 

3 Here I'll raise my Ebenezer % 

Hither by thy help I'm come ; 
And I hope, hy thy good pleasure, 

Safely to arrive at home. 
Jesus sought me when a stranger, 

Wand'ring from the fold of Gods 
He, to save my soul from danger, 

Interpos'd his precious blood. 

3 O ! to grace, how great a debtor, 

Daily I'm constrain'd to be ! 
Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, 

Bind my wandering heart to Thee t 
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 

Prone to leave the God I love — 
Here's my heart, O ! take and seal it I 

Seal it from thy courts above. 

M fa»n not worthy of the least of alt the 
mercies, and of alt the truths, which 
Thou hast shewed unto thy servant*" 
—Gen. 33. lO. 






EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. S41 

O eternal Ood ! Thou Lord of heaven 
and earth ! I would with unfeigned 
sincerity of soul, praise, adore and 
magnify thy majesty, wisdom and om- 
nipotence, for all the wonderful works. 
Which Thou didst create in six days, as 
also for the sanctified rest which Thou 
didst enjoy on this day, by which Thou 
hast assured use of a blessed and ever- 
lasting rest in heaven. 

OiLord! how can I ever make ade- 
quate returns of gratitude and praise 
for all thy goodness, which Thou hast 
bestowed upon me, not only through 
this day, which is just past and gone, 
but also, through the past week and 
all the periods of my past life ? From 
my youth up, hast Thou led and guid- 
ed me in infinite wisdom — Thou hast 
governed me in the most fatherly man- 
ner, and protected me by thine almigh- 
ty power — Thou hast blessed me both 
as to soul and body — defending me from 
evil and danger, and delivering me 
from trouble, and hast stretched out 
thy paternal hand over me and mine, 
through the past week, to our preser- 
vation, and hast prospered the works 
of our hands in such wise, that we 
have not lacked any good. It is true 
that sufficient for the day is the evil 
thereof, and each week has its mea- 
sure of cares and anxieties, but Thou, 
O Lord, hast not onlv enabled me to 



342 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

overcome the evil, but also, to pass 
through the trials and cares of the past 
week, with comfort, and to arrive at 
another seasonable rest, to invigorate 
my wearied frame. Well may my 
heart and tongue in joy exclaim : the 
Lord hath done great things unto me, 
whereof I am glad. 

O gracious God! I know and ac- 
knowledge that I have, alas ! in in- 
numerable instances, offended Thee, 
and excited thy just displeasure, 
through the past week, insomuch that 
it is matter of astonishment to me, 
that Thou shouldest deal so gently 
with me, But I am grieved on ac- 
count of my transgressions. O that 
I had never been guilty of one sin 
against Thee, but had yielded a con- 
stant and unreserved obedience to thy 
will and commandments ! Forgive 
me all my sins % and as thy beloved Son 
Jesus Christ, on this day, laid in the 
grave, but was not permitted to see 
corruption x in like manner, O Lord, 
bury all the sins which I have com- 
mitted, not only through the past 
week, but also, through all my past 
life, in the grave of eternal oblivion. 
O forgive me, for Jesus 9 sake, and re- 
member me in much mercy, O God, so 
that I may sink sweetly into the arms 
of sleep, and arise on the coming 
morning, refreshed and prepared for 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 343 

thy service, for which thou hast crea- 
ted me, and to which I am solemnly 
bound by the work of redemption 
through Jesus Christ* 

And as my blessed Redeemer, after 
his resurrection, never entered into the 
grave again, even so, grant, O Lord, 
that after Thou hast raised me out of 
the grave of sin, I may not again 
plunge into it ; but render my heart, 
(which by nature is harder than the 
rock out of which the sepulchre was 
hewn, in which the body of my Sa- 
viour was laid,) a worthy receptacle in 
which this Saviour, not as dead, but 
as living, may forever be retained. © 
that I may enjoy the coming Sabbath 
of rest in him ! for alone in him do I 
find rest for my soul — real joy for my 
heart, and complete satisfaction for all 
the longing desires of my spirit. In 
him is opened up, a living fountain, 
in which there is a fulness of joy, and 
at his right-hand there are pleasures 
forevermore. 

And as Thou, O kind and compas- 
sionate Father! hast provided for me 
through the past week, in like man- 
ner, preserve me through the present 
night, and send, for this purpose, the 
holy angels that they may come in 
unto me and tarry with me, as they did 
with Lot, and that they may continu- 
ally encamp round about me, and pro- 



344 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

tect me during the repose of the ensuing 
night, so that I may arise on the com- 
ing morning, with gladness of heart, 
to enter upon the discharge of the du- 
ties, and enjoyment of the precious 
privileges of the day. And as I know 
not, how soon the evening of my life 
shall arrive, I beseech Thee, O L<ord, to 
continue with me, when the evening 
arrives, and forsake me not. With 
Thee, © Messed Saviour, it was even- 
ing, when Thou didst commend thy 
Spirit into the hand of thy Father, on 
the cross ; O have mercy then upon me, 
an unworthy sinner, when the evening 
of death shall set in with me, and sepa- 
rate my soul and body. When I am no 
longer to behold the light of this world, 
be Thou iny present helper in this time 
of greatest need, and preserve within 
me the spark of faith, that it may not 
be extinguished. And although all, 
as to my dying body, may be turned 
into darkness, O grant that the rays 
of thy divine grace may continue to 
shine into my soul, so that I may 
fall sweetly asleep in Jesns, and en- 
ter into thine everlasting kingdom, 
there to spend an eternal Sabbath 
of rest, free from all cares and anxie- 
ties, and resting from all my labours, 
whilst I am without intermission, en- 
gaged in 'swelling praises and thanks- 
givings unto Father, Son, and Holy 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 545 

Ghost, as my Triune God in covenant. 
— Allien* 

H Y M N 44. C. M.— Bedford. 

1 BEGONE, my worldly cares away, 

Nor dare to tempt my sight ; 
Let me begin the ensuing day, 
Before I end this night. 

2 Yes, let the work of pray'r and praise 

Employ my heart and tongue ; 
Begin, my soul 2 thy Sabbath days 
Can never be too long. 

3 liet the past mercies of the week 

Excite a grateful frame ; 
Nor let my tongue refuse to speak 
Some good of Jesus' name. 

4 On wings of expectation borne, 

My hopes to heaven ascend ; 

I long to welcome in the morn, 

With thee the day to spend. 

HYMN 45. C. U.—Barby. Plymouth 

1 I LOVE to steal awhile away 
From every cumbering care, 
And spend the hours of setting day, 
In humble, grateful prayer. 

5 I love in solitude to shed 

The penitential tear, 
And all his promises to plead, 
Where none but God can hear. 



346 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR SATURDAY. 

3 I love to think on mercies past, 

And future good implore, 
And all my care and sorrows cast 
On him whom I adore. 

4 I love by faith to take a view 

Of brighter scenes in heav'n ; 
The prospect doth my strength renew 
While here by .tempests driv'n. 

5 Thus, when life's toilsome day is o'er, 

May its departing ray 
Be calm as this impressive hour, 
And lead to endless day. 



---- 



PART II. 



Supplication for grace rightly to hear 
the word of God. 

HYMN 45. C, M f — Clarendon. 

1 FATHER of mercies, in thy word 

Wliat endless glories shine ! 
Forever be thy name adored 
For these celestial lines. 

2 Here, may the wretched sons of want 

Exhaustless riches find ; 
Riches above what earth can grant* 
And lasting as the mind* 

3 Here, the fair tree of knowledge 

grows, 
And yields a free repast ; 
Sublimer sweets than nature knows 
Invite the longing taste. 

4 Here, springs of consolation rise 

To cheer the fainting mind § 
And thirsty souls receive supplies, 
And sweet refreshment find. 

5 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice 

Spreads heavenly peace around, 
And life, and everlasting joys 
Attend the blissful sound. 



348 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE RIGHTLY 

6 Oh, may these heavenly pages be 

My ever dear delight 5 
And still new beauties may I see, 
And still increasing light ! 

7 Divine instructor, gracious Lord, 

Be Thou forever near, 
Teach me to love thy sacred word, 
And view my Saviour there. 

" Search the scriptures ,• for in them ye 
think ye have eternal life / and they are 
they which testify of me." — John 5. 39. 

O ever blessed C*od and Father ! my 
soul would rejoice, and my heart would 
exult with gladness within me, when 
I reflect on thy exuberant goodness to- 
wards me, in permitting me to enjoy 
thy word, through which I may learn 
thy works and will to my comfort, in 
all tribulations and adversities. But 
especially would I thank Thee, that 
while the precious volume of thy word, 
is to multitudes who profess the Chris- 
tian name, a sealed book, and they are 
fed with the mere husks of the tradi- 
tions of men, from which they can- 
not derive the least true comfort or in- 
structions, Thou hast granted me the 
gracious privilege of reading and 
contemplating these sacred oracles. 
Grant, therefore, O Father ! that I may 
ever make a due improvement of these 
invaluable blessings, by attentively 



TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. S49 

reading and inwardly digesting the 
precious truths and doctrines contain- 
ed in thy holy word. And, inasmuch 
as I cannot, in consequence of my na- 
tural depravity, read and understand 
thy word without the blessed influences 
of thy Holy Spirit, © be pleased to pour 
out thy Spirit into my heart, to the en- 
lightening of my mind, in order that I 
may comprehend and understand it, 
and incline Thou my will to exercise a 
true faith and yield a cheerful and un- 
wavering obedience to all thy will and 
commandments. Forbid that thy word 
should ever prove a dead letter, or be- 
come a savour of death unto death to 
me, but grant that it may be a savour 
of life unto life, and a seed of regene- 
ration. Crrant that this seed may take 
deep root within me, and bring forth 
much fruit unto everlasting life ; that 
I may be thereby constrained to make 
progress in the amendment of my whole 
life — be greatly consoled and borne up 
in all trials and temptations — be 
strengthened in faith and patience, 
and confirmed in all manner of good 
works, and thus be edified unto life 
eternal. May it not only sound in my 
ears, but also penetrate my heart, so 
that I may continue faithful in the 
confession of the truth unto the end, 
and finally receive the end of my faith, 
even the salvation of my soul, through 



350 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD'S 

Jesus Christ my Mediator and Redeem- 
er. — Allien* 



Instructions how to hear Crod-s holy word 
with profit. 

HYMN 46. 87877 7 Treasure, 

1 PRECIOUS Bible I what a treasure 

Does the word of God afford ! 
All I want for life or pleasure, 

Food and med'cine, shield and 
sword. 
JLet the world aeeount me poor, 
Having this, I want no more. 

2 Food to which the world's a stranger, 

Here my hungry soul enjoys ? 
Of excess there is no danger, 

Though it fills, it never eloys : 
On a dying Christ I feed, 
He is meat and drink indeed ! 

3 When my faith is faint and sickly, 

Or when Satan wounds my mind, 
Cordials to revive me quickly, 

Healing med'cine here I find ; 
To the promises I flee, 
Each affords a remedy. 

4 In the hour of dark temptation 

Satan cannot make me yield ; 
For the word of consolation 

Is to me a mighty shield : 
"While the scripture truths are sure 
From his malice I'm secure. 



HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. 351 

5 Vain his threats to overcome me, 

When I take the Spirit's sword : 
Then with ease I drive him front me 9 

Satan trembles at the word : 
'Tis a sword for conquest made, 
Keen the edge, and strong the blade* 

6 Shall I envy then the miser 9 

Doting on his golden store ? 
Sure I am, or should be wiser, 

I am rich, 'tis he is poor. 
Jesus gives me, in his word, [sword* 
food and med'cine, shield and 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

"JBtessed are they that hear the word of 
God, and keep 'it? 9 — I. like 4. £2. 

The humble and pious Christian who 
would desire to hear the word of God 
with profit, must: 

In the first place, enter into a suit- 
able preparation for it, so that he may 
set under the preaching of the gospel 
with a holy reverence, and a sincere 
spiritual hunger for this manna from 
heaven, as the only true nourishment 
of his soul. Hence says the preacher 
Solomon, "Keep thy foot when thou 
goest to the house of God, and be ready 
to hear." — Eccl. 5. 1. Now we remark: 

1. That the church is the house of 
God, in which he displays his gracious 
presence among his people, according 



852 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD*S 

to the promise: "Where two or three 
are gathered together in my name, 
there I will be in the mid§t of them" 
to bless them. "We may therefore, with 
propriety say of sueh assemblies what 
the patriareh J acoh said of Bethel : 
" Surely the ILord is in this place, and 
I knew it not," and again, " This is 
none other but the house of God, and 
this is the gate of heaven." — Gen. 28. 
16^ 17. Hence the indispensible neces- 
sity of appearing on all such occasions 
in the presence of Jehovah, with the 
profoundest reverence. When Moses 
was about approaching unto the burn- 
ing bush, the ILord said unto him : 
"Draw not nigh hither; put off thy 
shoes from off thy feet, for the place 
whereon thou standest is holy ground." 
— Ex. 3. 5. In like manner must we 
put off our shoes, viz s all sinful, un- 
seemly, earthly thoughts and cares, 
when we go up into the house of God, 
to wait upon him according to his will 
and ordinances. 

And as food is only truly nourishing 
to us, when we receive it with a good 
appetite ; even so must the preaching 
of God's holy word, be received as 
spiritual food for the soul, with a sin- 
cere and longing desire to be thereby 
nourished and strengthened, and be 
built up unto eternal salvation. Hence 
says the apostle Peter : " Desire the sin- 



HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. $53 

cere milk of the word, that ye may 
grow thereby." — 1 Pet. 2. 2. 

It follows, therefore, as a matter of 
course, that we must direct our serious 
and undivided attention to the preach- 
ed word, after the example of those 
who heard the preaching of our Sa- 
viour himself, of whom it is said s 
" The eyes of all them that were in the 
synagogue were fastened on him*"— * 
Luke 4. 2©. 

2. If we would hear the preaching 
of God's holy word, with benefit to our 
immortal soul, we must ever bear in 
mind, that it is our bounden duty to 
receive it not as the word of man, but 
the "word of God. For, although it be 
preached by man, yet it was not either 
conceived or invented by man, but holy 
men spake and wrote as they were in* 
spired by the Holy Ghost ; and hence 
every true minister of the gospel is an 
ambassador of the ]Lord Jestis Christ. 
Hence says the apostle Paul : " We 
have this treasure in earthen vessels, 
that the excellency of the power may 
be of God, and not of us. 59 — 2 Cor. 4. 7- 
And the blessed Redeemer himself de- 
clares in relation to all his minister- 
ing servants: "He that heareth you, 
heareth me." — liiike 10. 16. And we 
have a most interesting and strik- 
ing exemplification of the manner in 
which we must hear and receive the 

23 



354 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR GOD J S 

messages of God's word, in the re- 
markable ease of young Samuel, as 
left on record, 1 Saw. 3. lO; where we 
are informed that when God was 
about revealing himself to him, he 
called the second time unto him in the 
night, saying : Samuel ! Samuel ! He 
however imagined that it was the voice 
of a mere man — the voice of Eli the 
priest, and while this was the case, God 
gave him no further information on the 
subject, but as soon as Samuel realized 
that it was the voice of God, he imme- 
diately exclaimed : "Speak I^ord for 
thy servant heareth;" and it was then 
that God made a revelation of himself 
to him. Even so will the preaching of 
God's word remain barren and un- 
fruitful in us, while we receive it not as 
the word of God, but as the word of 
man. Faith thus implanted in us, will 
only be a temporal and not a divine 
and living faith. Wow, in order to sal- 
vation, it is necessary that we exercise 
a divine faith, that is, such a faith 
which relies implicitly on the testimo- 
nies of God. 

3. In the next place we remark, that 
profound and undivided attention to 
the preaching of the gospel, is indis- 
pensably necessary, inasmuch as the 
doctrines of our salvation are hereby 
exhibited unto us — doctrines, into 
which the angels desire to look and 



HOLY WORD WITH PROFIT. 355 

delight to hear. And hence, if we 
would derive profit from the preached 
word, we must receive it in the exer- 
cise of a true and living faith. What 
was the great reason, why the great 
mass of the Israelites, who came up 
out of Egypt, fell in the wilderness and 
finally perished ? Why the apostle 
Paul informs us in the fourth chapter 
of his epistle to the Hebrews, in explicit 
terms, that it was their unbelief. Hence 
arises the necessity i>£ our applying all 
the doctrines, admonitions, reproofs 
and consolations, held forth to us in the 
public exhibitions of God's word, as 
directly to ourselves, as if there were 
no other individual present, or as if the 
ambassador of Christ addressed him- 
self to us individually, and in accord- 
ance with what the apostle has ex- 
pressly stated to us on this subject, 
when he says : " For whatsoever things 
were written afore-time, were written 
for our learning, that we through pa- 
tience, and comfort of the scriptures 
might have hope." — Rom. 15.4. And as 
the best nourishment will prove utterly 
unavailing to a man, unless he par- 
takes of it ; so in like manner, the best 
and most effectual sermon cannot pro- 
fit us, unless we receive and apply this 
word to our own souls. And we, there- 
fore, remark again, that this cordial 
reception of the preached gospel, must 



256 INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO HEAR, &C. 

be connected with a practical perform* 
ance of that which we hear, as we are 
informed was the case with Cornelius 
and his household, when he replied to 
the apostle Peter : " Now therefore are 
we all here present before God, to hear 
all thing's, that are commanded thee of 
God.' 9 — Acts lO. 33. And for which the 
Psalmist prays, when he exclaims t 
" Teach me, © Lord, the way of thy 
statutes; and I shall keep it unto the 
end.' 9 — Ps. 119. 33. 

Finally, to a profitable hearing: of a 
preached g-ospel, if we desire that it 
should make a suitable impression 
upon our souls, we must treasure up 
that which we hear, in our hearts, so 
as often and seriously to reflect, and 
converse with the members of our fa- 
milies often on it; hence says the Sa- 
viour : " Blessed are they that hear the 
word of God and keep it." — JLuke 11. 
28 ; and in a word, we must be careful 
to regulate our "whole faith, life and 
conduct according to the precious doc- 
trines and ordinances of the gospel; 
therefore saith the lord s "Hear, O 
Israel, the statutes and judgments 
which I speak in your ear this day, 
that ye keep and do them." — I>eut. 5* 
1 ; and the blessed Redeemer : " If ye 
know these things, happy are ye if ye 
do them. 99 — John 13. 17. 



SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, &C. 357 

Supplication for grace, rightly to hear 
and improve the word of God* 

HYMN 48. 7. 6.—- Supplication. 

1 FATHER of our dying i.ord, 

Remember us for good ; 
O fulfil his faithful word, 

And hear his speaking blood ! 
Give us that for which he prays ; 

Father, glorify thy Son s 
Show his truth, and power and grace, 

And send the promise down. 

2 True and faithful Witness Thou, 

© Christ, thy Spirit give ! 
Hast Thou not received him now, 

That we might siow receive ? 
Art Thou not our living head ? 

Life to all thy limbs impart. 
Shed thy love, thy Spirit shed, 

In every waiting heart. 

3 Holy Ghost, the Comforter, 

The gift of Jesus, come ; 
Glows our heart to find Thee near, 

And swells to make Thee room ; 
Present with us Thee we feel, 

Come, O come, and in us be ! 
With us, in us, live and dwell 

To all eternity. 

"Mow sweet are thy words unto my 
taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my 
mouth." " Thy word is a lamp unto my 
feet, and a light unto my path." — Ps. 
119.103,105. 



358 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, TO HEAR 

O eternal Ood and gracious Fatlier 
in Christ Jesus ! Thou hast said in thy 
word if any man lack wisdom let him 
ask it of Thee, with the promise that 
all which we ask of Thee, in the name 
of thy beloved Son, Thou wilt grant 
unto us. Relying, therefore, on this 
promise, I would prostrate my self in the 
profoundest humility before Thee, and 
confess that I am unworthy to hear thy 
holy word, as I have, alas! in times 
and ways without number, transgress- 
ed against it, and lived in opposition to 
its holy precepts s and I, therefore, of 
myself am incapable to hear thy word 
in a profitable manner, as my mind is 
spiritually blind and ignorant, and my 
affections and desires are averse to all 
that is spiritually good. I am ignorant 
in hearing, drowsy in stttenAin§; 9 and 
forgetful as to retaining thy word; I 
therefore beseech Thee, O heavenly 
Parent I to not only in mercy, permit 
sue to hear thy word, hu.t also to grant 
me grace, that I may hear thy word to 
ihe editlcation and salvation of my 
soul. Make me, €> Father, like unto a 
new born ^b^he^ desiring the pure milk 
of thy soul sanctifying word. May it 
ever prove sweeter to me than honey, 
and the honey-comb ; open Thou my 
heart, as Thou didst that of ILydia, so 
that I may attentively hearken unto 
thy messages, which I receive. Anoint 



AND IMPROVE THE WORD OF GOD. 359 

mine eyes with the influences of thy 
Holy Spirit, that the scales of igno- 
rance and unbelief may fall off, and I 
may behold wonders out of thy law* 
Sanish from mine eyes all unseason- 
able sleep, from mine ears all supine- 
ness and indifference, and eradicate 
out of my body and soul, ail which 
would prove detrimental to the hear- 
ing, receiving and preserving of thy 
word and will* 

Cfrant unto thy ministering servant 
grace, rightly to understand the mys- 
teries of thy gospel, and to open his 
mouth with boldness, in declaring the 
whole counsel of CSod, and to apply it 
with power to all those who hear. May 
his words be clothed with divine power 
from on high, so that they may rouse 
my conscience, and that all imj sinful 
affections and desires may be entirely 
eradicated. And grant thai; 1 may 
hear and receive the preached word, 
not as the word of man, hut (as it is in- 
deed and truth) thine own word — that 
I may not only rejoice in its blessed 
consolations, but also, readily submit 
to its faitfui rebukes and warnings* 
May I not take offence at thy servant, 
the preacher when he, in fMe discharge 
of his duty, corrects me; Izivt may I 
continue to love him more for his 
fidelity, in endeavouring to promote 
my eternal welfare, as one who has, 



S60 SUPPLICATION FOR GRACE, &C. 

in due time, to give an account for my 
soul. 

And as I ain by nature, prone to for- 
getfulness, and satan is ever on the 
alert, to remove the impressions made 
by thy word on my heart, O be pleased 
to ingraft it deeply in my soul, so that 
I may never forget it, but preserve and 
practice it to my soul's salvation. And 
as the knowledge of the truth, is of the 
greatest injury to us, when we neglect 
carrying out this knowledge in a prac- 
tical and holy obedience, I beseech 
Thee to bestow upon me the gracious 
dews of thy Holy Spirit, that I may 
thereby, be made abundantly fruitful 
in holy desires — that my mind may 
abound in heavenly contemplations — 
my tongue dwell on the wonders of 
thy love — my hands be diligent in all 
good works, and may I thus continu- 
ally exhibit myself as a faithful doer 
of thy word, in the discharge of all 
Christian duties, to the honour of thy 
holy name, and to the salvation of my 
soul in the day of the ILord Jesus Christ, 
to whom, with Thee and the Holy Spi- 
rit, be all the glory forever and ever. 
— Amen. 






A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. S61 

•df Prayer of an humhle believer, under 
dejection of spirit, in consequence of 
not being able to hear the word of God 
with that attention and interest which 
he desires. 

HYMN 49. C. M.— Irish. 

1 My soul lies clearing to the dust ; 
Lord give me life divine ; 
Front vain desires and ev'ry lust, 
Turn off these eyes of mine. 

3 I need th' influence of thy grace 
To speed me in my way, 
Lest I should loiter in my race, 
Or turn my feet astray. 

3 When sore afflictions press me down? 

I need thy quickening pow'rs ; 
Thy word that I have rested on, 
Shall help my heaviest hours. 

4 Are not thy mercies sovereign still, 

And Thou a faithful God ? 
"Wilt Thou not grant me warmer sgeal- 

To run the heav'nly road ? 

5 Does not my heart thy precepts love, 

And long to see thy face ? 
And yet how slow my spirits move, 
Without enlivening grace ! 

6 Then shall I love thy gospel more, 

And ne'er forget thy word ? 
When I have felt its quick'ning po w'r, 
To draw me near the Lord. 



362 A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. 

" Open Thou mine eyes, O God, that I 
may behold wonderous things out of thy 
Maw."— Ps.ll». 18. 

O most merciful and gracious God ! 
What great reason have I to be grate- 
ful towards Thee, for calling me to a 
participation of the blessed privileges 
enjoyed in thy church, in which Thou 
permittest me, from time to time, to 
hear thy word preached and expound- 
ed, and encouraged to yield obedience 
to thy will, and to work out my soul's 
salvation, whilst Thou permittest the 
great majority of mankind to live 
and die in ignorance and superstition. 
O that I may make a diligent use and 
improvement of these means and or- 
dinances of grace I Mwt I am, alas I 
too negligent, in observing and re- 
alizing these precious prerogatives, 
which Thou art affording me, above 
so many of my fellow creatures. I 
realize indeed, that I am permitted 
to appear in the assemby of thy saints, 
where thy voice of love and mercy is 
proclaimed unto me ; hut I am, alas ! 
too often no better than a mere statue 
of wood or stone, which has ears, hwtt 
hears not ; for, although thy servants 
preach thy word with zeal and ener- 
gy, I am inclined to sleep, or if I ever 
feel wakeful, my mind is too often 
filled with vain, foolish and sinful 



A PRATER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &C. 363 

thoughts; and although I resolve to 
hearken to thy word; yet, I experi- 
ence little benefit to my soul ; my mind 
is indeed somewhat enlightened, but 
my heart is not much softened or im- 
proved. I am acquainted "with the 
doctrines and instructions of thy 
word ; but I do not increase in a sav- 
ing knowledge and faith in Jesus 
Christ. I believe thine encouraging 
promises, but alas ! I am not thereby 
induced to love and serve Thee with 
all my heart; thy threatnings pene- 
trate mine ears, but I am not induced 
from a fear of incurring thy displeas- 
ure, to depart entirely from all iniqui- 
ties, and to amend my life; and al- 
though I conceive a good resolution to 
change my course of life and conduct, 
yet, alas! it endures but for a short 
time, being like unto a transient fiaine 
of fire, which emits no heat, but soon 
expires ; I have scarcely passed out of 
the door of thy house, until I have for- 
gotten what I have hesued^ and am like 
unto a riddle drawn up out of the wa- 
ter, which contains scarcely a drop of 
water, and return again, alas ! to of- 
fend Thee with my sins and transgres- 
sions. Satan, thine and my sworn 
enemy, moreover, is not idle, but is 
ever ready to persuade me, that the 
hearing of thy word will not tend to 
my salvation, but rather bring upo*> 



364 A PRAYER OP AN HUMBLE BELIEVER, &G« 

me an aggravated condemnation, as I, 
as a servant, (or band-maid) who know 
his (her) master's will, but do it not, 
shall be beaten with many stripes* 
Now, O God and Father of all mercy 
and grace I I confess all these things, 
with grief and sorrow of soul, and re- 
pent it in dust and ashes before Thee, 
and beg of Thee most fervently gra- 
ciously to forgive all these grievous 
sins. O enlighten, gracious Ood, the 
eyes of mine understanding, so that I 
may conceive and comprehend the 
mysteries of thy kingdom. Incline 
Thou my will to yield a cheerful and 
unreserved obedience unto Thee. Awa- 
ken within me a pure and holy flame 
of devotion to hear thy word, and 
strengthen my weak memory, to trea- 
sure it up in a pure heart. Grant that 
I may ever keep thy word before mine 
eyes, and make it the man of my coun- 
sel, and the rule of my faith, life and 
actions, that I may apply the threaten- 
ings contained in it to the amendment 
of my whole life, that I may apply its 
holy admonitions, so as to urge me on 
in perfecting holiness in the fear of the 
Lord, and may it ever be my ardent de- 
sire to become more and more assimi- 
lated to Jesus, the pattern of all moral 
perfection, until I at length, attain the 
full measure of the stature of Christ 
Jesus, and am at last introduced into 



a: prayer after hearing a gospel sermon. 3(?5 

that glory and felicity, in which I 
shall no more need any intermediate 
means, to know Thee or learn thy will, 
bat where the Lamb of God himself, 
shall lead and guide me in all knowl- 
edge, amidst the green pastures and 
ever-flowing' treasures of love divine, 
which issue from the throne of God ! 
And now to Thee, the King Immortal, 
Invisible and only wise God, Father, 
Son and Holy Ghost, be ascribed all 
the praises, power, dominion and 
glory forevermore* — Amen. 



*1 prayer after hearing a gospel sermon* 

HYMN 50. 7's & 6's.— Who's like Jesus. 

1 JESUS Thou hast bid us pray, 

And never, never faint ; 
"With the word a power convey, 

To utter our complaint ! 
Quiet shalt thou never know, 

Till we from sin are freed : 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head ! 

2 We have now begun to cry, 

And we will never end, 
Till we And salvation nigh, 

And grasp the sinner's Friend : 
I>ay and night we'll speak our wo, 

Importunately plead ; 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head. 



366 A PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 

3 Speak the word, and ire shall be 

From all our bands released ; 
Only Thou canst set us free. 

By satan long oppress- d i 
Now thy power almighty show. 

Arise, Thou conquering Seed ! 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head ! 

4 To destroy his work of sin, 

Thyself in us reveal ; 
Manifest thyself within 

Our flesh, and fully dwell i 
Enter with us here below, 

And make us free indeed s 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head ! 

5 Stronger than the strong man Thou, 

His fury eanst control : 
Cast him out, by entering now, 

And keep our ransom'd soul. 
Satan's kingdom overthrow, 

On powers of darkness tread; 
©, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head ! 

© To the never-ceasing cries 

Of thine elect, attend ; 
Send deliverance from the skies, 

Thy mighty Spirit send 5 
Though to man Thou seemest slow, 

And not our cries to heed s 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head I 



A. PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 867 

7 Come, O Come, all glorious Lord I 

Wo longer now delay, 
With the Spirit's tiro-edged sword. 

The erooked serpent slay ! 
Bare thine arni, and give the Mow, 

Root out the hellish seed : 
O, avenge us of our foe, 

And bruise the serpent's head ! 

8 Jesus, hear thy Spirit's call, 

Thy Bride, who bids Thee come: 
Come, Thou righteous Judge of all, 

Pronounce the tempter's doom : 
Doom him to eternal wo, 

For all his angels made ; 
IVow avenge us of our foe, 

Forever bruise his head ! 

" Wherefore receive with meekness the 
ingrafted word, which is able to save your 
souls / and he ye doers of the word, and 
not hearers only, deceiving your own* 
selves." — James I. 21, 22. 

O most merciful Ood and Father in 
heaven 2 I would present unto Thee, 
in deepest humility of soul, the fruits 
of heart and tongue, even the warmest 
gratitude and praise, for all the bless- 
ings Thou hast bestowed upon me, as 
well for the body, as more especially 
for the light of thy truth, which Thou 
hast presented to me so plainly and 
pointedly in the preaching of thy word, 
by which Thou makest known thy 



368 A PRAYER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 

mind and will in relation to my duties 
towards Thee, and to work out my soul's 
salvation, in Christ Jesus. O I^ord ! 
awaken me to a true and living know- 
ledge of this exceeding grace and com- 
passion towards me, notwithstanding 
I have often neglected paying that at- 
tention to thy word, which is necessary 
to enable it to bring forth fruit, and by 
which I have richly deserved to be 
given over to a reprobate sense, so as 
to cause thy word to prove a savour of 
death unto me, but still Thou hast per- 
mitted me once more to hear thy mind 
and will proclaimed unto me, in a 
preached gospel. Grant me, blessed 
Ood, a broken and penitent heart, to 
weep over my inattention and base 
ingratitude towards Thee. Way, be 
pleased to water the seed which has 
just been sowed into mine heart, with 
the early and latter rains of thy grace, 
that it may take deep root, spring up, 
and bring forth much fruit meet unto 
repentance and salvation. May my 
darkened understanding be thereby 
enlightened — my stubborn will be bow- 
ed into obedience of faith — my troubled 
heart be comforted — my weak faith, 
love, hope and patience all be strength- 
ened, and my sinful life be amended, 
and I be enabled to make continual 
progress in the narrow way which 
leads unto everlasting life. Strengthen* 



A PRATER AFTER HEARING A GOSPEL SERMON. 869 

O Lord, for this purpose, my memory, 
so that I may be enabled to retain the 
preeious truths which I hear, to sincere* 
ly love them, and continually meditate 
awk Thee, and earnestly resolve to live 
according to all thy commandments, 
and thus work out my soul's salvation 
with fear and trembling, so that I may 
not belong to the number of those who 
have the form of godliness, but deny its 
power, or those who hear much, but do 
little, and thereby treasure up unto 
themselves the wrath of God against 
the day of wrath, and the revelation of 
the righteous judgment of God. 

But O may I be like a tree planted 
by the water course, which brings its 
fruit in due season, and whose leaves 
do not wither — that I may not bring 
fruit of the flesh but of the Spirit — such 
as love, peace, joy, patience, friendship, 
benevolence, faith, meekness and vir- 
tue. 

But, O Lord, as Thou knowest full 
well, that in consequence of my flesh 
lusting against the Spirit, and the law 
in my members warring against the 
law in my mind, it is with great diffi- 
culty that I accomplish any good, nay, 
that I often grow weary in well-doing 
— that I am moreover scoffed at by the 
people of the world, and that satan 
goes about continually, as a roaring 
lion, seeking how he may render my 

24. 



370 SACRAMENTS OP THE CHURCH OF €KM>„ 

progress in the way to heaven difficult.. 
© CJod ! I entreat Thee to replenish my 
soul with grace and power from on 
high, to remain steadfast in the fulfil- 
ment of my good resolution, and in- 
crease in the knowledge and grace of 
-my JLord and Saviour J" esus Christ, and 
to remain faithful unto the end, so that 
I may at last, through the riches of thy 
free grace, receive the end of my faith* 
even the eternal salvation of my never- 
dying soul I — Amen. 



SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. 



HYMN 51. C. M.— Whiting. 

1 MY Saviour Ci-od, my Sovereign 

Prince, 
Reigns far above the shies ; 
Rut brings his graces down to sense, 
And helps my faith to rise. 

2 My eyes and ears shall Mess his name : 

They read and hear his word ; 
My touch and taste shall do the same, 
When they receive the ILord. 

3 Raptismal water is designed 

To seal his cleansing grace % 
While at his feast of bread and win© 
He gives his saints a place ; 



INSTRUCTIONS. 371 

4 Bat not the waters of a flood 

Can make my flesh so clean ; 
As by his Spirit and his blood 
He'll wash my soul front sin. 

5 Not choicest meats, nor noblest wines, 

So much my heart refresh % 
As when my faith goes thro 9 the sign's, 
And feeds upon his flesh. 

6 I love the Lord, that stoops so low, 

To give his word a seal : 
But the rich grace his hands bestow, 
Exceeds the figures still. 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

As to the nature and objects of the 
Sacraments of the Christian Church, 
we remark, that our gracious €*od, on 
account of our weakness and infirmi- 
ties, hath ordained the sacraments for 
ns, thereby to seal unto us his promises, 
and to be pledges <o>£ the good- will and 
grace of €fod toward us, and also to 
nourish and strengthen our faith % 
which he hath joined to the word of 
the gospel, the better to present ta our 
senses, both that, which he signifies to 
us by his word, and that which he 
works inwardly in our hearts, thereby 
assuring and confirming in us, the sal- 
vation which he imparts to us. For 
they are visible signs and seals of an 
inward and invisible thing, by means 
whereof, God worketh in us by the 



372 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 

power of the Holy Ohost. Therefore, 
the signs are not in Tain or insignifi- 
cant, so as to deceive us. For Jesns 
Christ is the true object presented by 
them, without whom they would be ot 
no moment. Moreover, we are satisfied 
with the number of sacraments which 
Christ our Lord hath instituted, which 
are two only, namely, the sacrament 
of baptism, and the holy supper of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 



The Sacrament of Baptism. 

HYMN 52. C. M.— Cambridge. 

1 THE sacraments are holy signs 

And precious gospel seals ; 
They exhibit what the Lord designs. 
And what his word reveals. 

2 But these are not themselves the grace, 

Which signs and seals set forth ; 
The supper's not the sacrifice, 
Hfor water the new birth. 

3 The sacraments were never meant 

A substitute for grace ; 
They're not the truths they represent, 
Nov must they take their place. 

4 Sinners may publicly profess, 

And signs and seals receive, 

Of what they never did possess, 

Or what they don't believe. 



THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM, 373 

5 Man may baptize, but 'tis the liord 
Regenerates the heart ; 
None but the Spirit, by his word. 
That blessing ean impart. 

S Preserve us, Lord, from self-deceit, 
From resting on a sign ; 
Bestow what symbols indicate, 
And give us life divine. 

7 Let none who preach the gospel hide 
This solemn truth from meik : 
They may with water be baptiz'd, 
Yet not be born again. 

Inasmuch as Jesus Christ, who is 
the end of the law, hath made an end, 
by the shedding of his blood, of all 
other sheddings of blood, which men 
could or would make as a propitia- 
tion or satisfaction for sin: and that 
he, having abolished circumcision, 
which was done with blood, hath in- 
stituted the sacrament of baptism in- 
stead thereof; by which we are re- 
ceived into the church of God, and 
separated from all other people and 
strange religions, that we may wholly 
belong to him, whose ensign and ban- 
ner we bear: and which serves as a 
testimony to us, that he will forever be 
our gracious Crod and Father. There- 
fore, he has commanded all those, 
who are his, to be baptized with pure 
water, "in the name of the Father, 



374 THE SACRAMENT OF EAPTISM. 

and of tlie Son, and of the Holy 

G-laosf |" thereby signifying to us, that 
as water washeth away tlie filth of the 
body, when poured upon it, and is seen 
on the body of the baptized, when 
sprinkled upon him ; so doth the blood 
of Christ, hy the poiver of the Holy 
CS-host, internally sprinkle the soul, 
cleanse it from its sins, and regenerate 
ns from children of wrath, unto chil- 
dren of CS-od. Wot that this is effected 
l^j the external water, but by the 
sprinkling of the precious blood of the 
Son of God; who is our Red Sea, 
through which we must pass, to escape 
the tyv^imj of Pharaoh, that is, the 
devil, and to enter into the spiritual 
land of Canaan. Therefore, the min- 
isters, on their part, administer the 
sacrament, and that which is visible, 
but our liord giveth that which is sig- 
nified by the sacrament, namely, the 
gifts and invisible grace; washing, 
cleansing and purging our souls of all 
filth and unrighteousness ; renewing 
our hearts, and filling them with all 
comfort ; giving unto us a true assur- 
ance of his fatherly goodness ; putting 
on us the new man, and putting off the 
old man with- ail his deeds. There- 
fore, we believe, that every man who 
is earnestly studious of obtaining life 
eternal, ought to be but once baptized 
with this holy baptism, without eye* 



THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 375 

repeating the same: since we cannot 
be born twice. Neither doth this bap- 
tism only avail tis 9 at the time when 
the water is poured upon as, and re- 
ceived by us, but also through the 
whole course of our life % therefore, 
we detest the error of the ana-bap- 
tists, who are not content with the one 
only baptism they have once received, 
and moreover condemn the baptism of 
the infants of believers, whom we be- 
lieve ought to be baptized and sealed 
with the sign of the covenant, as the 
children in Israel formerly were cir- 
cumcised, upon the same promises, 
which are made unto our children. 
And indeed Christ shed his blood no 
less for the washing of the children of 
the faithful, than for adult persons ; 
and therefore, they ought to receive 
the sign and sacrament of that, which 
Christ hath done for thein, as the ILord 
commanded in the law, that they 
should be made partaker§ of the sa- 
crament of Christ's suffering and 
death, shortly after they were born, by 
offering for them a lamb, which was 
a sacrament of Jesus Christ. More- 
over, what circumcision was to the 
Jews, that baptism is to our children. 
And for this reason Paul calls baptism 
the circumcision of Christ. 



376 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 

Infant Baptism* 

H Y M N 53. C. M.— Brattle Street. 

1 THUS saith the mercy of the Lord, 

" I'll be a God to thee ; 
I'll bless thy num'r ous race, and they 
Shall be a seed to me 

2 Abra'm believed the promised grace, 

And gave his child to God % 
But crater seals the blessing now 
That once was sealed with blood* 

3 Jesus the ancient faith confirms, 

To our fore-fathers giv'n ; 
He takes young children to his arms, 
And calls them heirs of heav'n. 

4 Our God, how faithful are his Trays ! 

His love endures the same : 
Nor from the promise of his grace 
Blots out his children's name. 

5 With the same blessings grace en- 

dows 
The Gentile and the Jew t 
If pure and holy be the root, 
Such are the branches too. 

6 Then let the children of the saints 

Be dedicate to God % 
Pour out thy Spirit on them, Lord ! 
And wash them in thy blood. 

7 Thus to the parents and their seed 

Shall thy salvation come % 
And numerous households meet at last 
In one eternal home. 



THE SACRAMENT OP INFANT BAPTISM. S77 

S Thy faithful saints, eternal King I 
This precious truth embrace ; 
To Thee their infant offspring bring, 
And humbly claim thy grace. 

The principal parts of the doctrine 
of holy baptism are these three : 

First* That we with our children are 
conceived and born in sin, and there- 
fore, are the children of wrath, inso- 
much that we cannot enter into the 
kingdom of God, except we are born 
again. This, the dipping in, or sprink- 
ling with water teaches us, whereby 
the impurity of our souls is signified, 
and we admonished to loath, and hum- 
ble ourselves before God, and seek for 
our purification and salvation without 
ourselves. 

Secondly* Holy baptism witnesseth 
and sealeth unto us the washing away 
of sins through Jesus Christ. There- 
fore, we are baptised " in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost." For wfeeia we are bap- 
tized in the name of the Father, God 
the Father witnesseth and sealeth unto 
us, that he doth make an eternal co- 
venant of grace with us, and adopts us 
for his children and heirs, and there- 
fore, will provide us with every good 
thing, and avert all evil or turn it to 
our profit. And when we are baptized 
in the name of the Son. the Son sealett 



378 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 

unto us, that lie doth, wash us in bis 
blood, front all out* sins, incorporating 
us into the fellowship of big death and 
resurrection, so that we are freed from 
ail our sins, and accounted righteous 
before Crod. In like manner, when we 
are baptized in the name of the Holy 
Ghost, th.e Holy Ghost assures us, by this 
holy sacrament, that he will dwell in us, 
and sanctify us to be members of Christ, 
applying unto us, that which we have 
in Christ, namely, the washing away of 
our sins, and the daily renewing of our 
lives, till we shall finally be presented 
without spot or wrinkle among the as- 
sembly of tUe elect in life eternal. 

Thirdly s Whereas, in all covenants, 
there are contained two parts? there- 
fore, are we 'hj God, through baptism, 
admonished, of, and obliged unto new 
obedience, namely, that we cleave to 
this one God, Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost | that we trust in him, and love 
him with all our hearts, with all our 
souls, with all our mind, and with all 
our strength'; that we forsake the 
world, crucify our old nature, and 
walk in a new and holy life. 

And if we sometimes, through weak- 
ness, fall into sin, we must not, there- 
fore, despair of God 9 § mercy, nor con- 
tinue in sin, since baptism is a seal and 
undoubted testimony, that we have an 
eternal covenant of grace with God. 



THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 379 

And although, onv young children do 
net understand these things, we may 
not, therefore, exclude them from bap- 
tism, for as they are without their 
knowledge, partakers of the condem- 
nation in Adam, so are they again re- 
ceived unto grace in Christ; as God 
speaketh unto Abraham the father of 
all the faithful, and therefore unto us 
and our children. Gen. xvii. 7. Saying, 
u I will establish my covenant between 
me and thee, and thy seed after thee, 
in their generations, for an everlasting 
covenant ; to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee." This also the 
apostle Peter testities, with these words, 
Acts ii. 30. " For the promise is unto 
you, and to your children, and to all 
that are afar off, even as many as the 
!Lord our God shall call." Therefore 
God formerly commanded them to be 
circumcised, which was a seal of the 
covenant, and of the righteousness of 
faith z and therefore, Christ also em- 
braced them, laid his hands upon them 
and blessed them s Mark, Chap. x. 

Since, then, baptism is come in the 
place of circumcision, therefore, in- 
fants are to be baptised as heirs of the 
kingdom of God, and of his covenant. 
And parents are in duty bound, farther 
to instruct their children herein, when 
they shall arrive at years of discretion* 
That, therefore, this holy ordinance of 



380 THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. 

Cod, may be administ ered to his glory, 
to our comfort, and to the edification 
of his church, let us call upon his holy 
name: 

O Almighty and eternal Cod, we be- 
seech Thee, that Thou wilt be pleased 
of thine infinite mercy, graciously to 
look upon these children, and incorpo- 
rate them by thy Holy Spirit, into thy 
Son Jesus Christ, that they may be bu- 
ried with him into his death, and be 
raised with him in newness of life ; that 
they may daily folio w him, joyfully 
bearing their cross, and cleave unto 
him in true faith, firm hope, and ar- 
dent love : that they may, with a com- 
fortable sense of thy favour, leave this 
life, which is nothing but a continual 
death, and at the last day, may appear 
without terror before the judgment seat 
of Christ thy Son, through Jesus Christ 
our liord, who with Thee and the Holy 
Chost, one only Cod, lives and reigns 
forever. — Amen. 

In addition to the representation of 
these truths, parents or sponsors are to 
answer the following questions : 

Firsts Whether you acknowledge, 
that although our children are con- 
ceived and born in sin, and therefore 
are subject to all miseries, yea, to con- 
demnation itself; yet that they are 



THE SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM. $81 

sanctified in Christ, and therefore as 
members of his church ought to be bap- 
tized ? 

Secondly : Whether you acknowledge 
the doctrine which is contained in the 
old and new testament, and in the ar- 
ticles of the Christian faith, and which 
is taught here in this Christian church, 
to the true and perfect doctrine of sal- 
vation ? 

Thirdly : Whether you promise and 
intend to see these children, when come 
to the years of discretion, (whereof thou 
art either parent or witness,) instructed 
and brought up in the aforesaid doc- 
trine, or help, or cause them to be in- 
structed therein, to the utmost of your 
power ? 

•Answers Yes. 

Then the minister of Ood's word, in 
baptizing, shall say : I baptize thee in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost. — Amen. 

Thanksgiving. 

Almighty God and merciful Father, 
we thank and praise Thee, that Thou 
hast forgiven us, and our children, all 
our sins, through the blood of thy be- 
loved Son Jesus Christ, and received us 
through thy Holy Spirit as members of 
thy only begotten Son, and adopted us 
to be thy children, and sealed and con- 



THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 

firmed the same unto us by holy bap* 
tism : we beseech Thee, through the 
same Son of tlty love, tliat Thou wilt 
be pleased always to govern these bap- 
tized children, by thy Holy Spirit, that 
they may be piously and religiously 
educated, increased and grow up in the 
[Lord Jesus Christ, that they then may 
acknowledge thy fatherly goodness 
and mercy, which Thou hast shown to 
them and us, and live in all righteous- 
ness, under our only Teacher, King 
and High Priest, Jesus Christ; and 
manfully tight against, and overcome 
sin, the devil and his whole dominion, 
to the end that they may eternally 
praise and magnify Thee, and thy Son 
Jesus Christ, together with the Holy 
Ghost, the only true €*od. — Amen. 



•Adult Baptism. 

HYMN 54. L. M..— Old Hundred. 

1 'TWAS the commission of our ILord, 
66 Go teach tike nations and baptize :" 
The nations have received thy "word, 
Since he ascended to the skies. 

2 He sits upon th' eternal hills 

"With grace and pardon in his hands, 
And sends his covenant, with the seals, 
To bless the distant heathen lands. 



THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 383 

3 ;; Repent and be baptized." be saith, 
"For the remission of your sins;*' 

And tbus our sense assists onr faith. 
And shows ns what his gospel means. 

4 Onr souls he washes in his blood, 
As water makes the body clean $ 
And the good Spirit of our God 
Descends like purifying rain* 

5 Thus we engage ourselves to Thee, 
And seal our covenant with the Lord; 
O may the great eternal Three 

In heav'n our solemn tows, record ! 

However children of Christian pa- 
rents, (although they understand not 

this mystery,) must be baptized by 
virtue of the covenant ; jet 3 it is not 
lawful to baptize those who are come 
to the years of discretion, except they 
first be sensible of their sins, and make 
confession both of their repentance 
and faith in Christ z for this cause did 
not only John the Baptist preach (ac- 
cording to the command of God,) the 
baptism of repentance, and baptized 
for the remission of sins, those who con- 
fessed their sins. Mark 1. and Luke 3. 
But our Lord Jesus Christ also com- 
manded his disciples to teach all na- 
tions, and then to baptize them, in the 
name of the Father, and the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost, Matthew 28. Mark 
16. Adding this promise: "He that 



384 THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 

believeth and is baptized shall be 
saved.' 9 According to which rule, the 
Apostles, as appeareth front Acts 2. 10 9 
and 16, baptized none who were of 
years of discretion, but such who made 
confession of their faith and repen- 
tance ; therefore it is not lawful now- 
a-days, to baptize any other adult per- 
sons, than such as have been taught 
the mysteries of holy baptism, by the 
preaching of the gospel, and are able 
to give an account of their faith by the 
confession of the mouth. Since there- 
fore you I¥. are also desirous of holy 
baptism, to the end, it may be to you a 
seal of your ingrafting into the church 
of God, that it may appear that you 
do not only receive the christian reli- 
gion, in which you. have been privately 
instructed by us, and of which also you 
have made confession before us : but 
that you (through the grace of God) in- 
tend and purpose to lead a life accord- 
ing to the same ; you are sincerely to 
give answer before God and his church : 

First* I>ost Thou believe in the only 
true God, distinct in three persons, Fa- 
ther, Son and Holy Ghost, who hath 
made heaven and earth, and all that 
in them is, of nothing, and still main- 
tains and governs them, insomuch that 
nothing comes to pass, either in hea- 
ven or on earth without his divine will t 

•Answer — Yes. 



THE SACRAMENT OF ADULT BAPTISM. 155 

Secondly s Dost thou believe that thou 
art conceived and born in sin, and 
therefore art a child of wrath by na* 
tnre, wholly incapable of doing any 
good, and prone to all evil ; and that 
thon hast frequently, both in thought, 
word and deed, transgressed the com- 
mandments of the Lord : and whether 
thou art heartily sorry for these sins f 

•Answer — Yes. 

Thirdly* Dost thou believe that 
Christ, who is the true and eternal 
God, and very man, who took his hu- 
man nature oik him out of the flesh and 
blood of the Virgin Mary, is given thee 
of God, to be thy Saviour, and that thou 
dost receive by this faith, remission of 
sins in his blood, and that thou art 
made by the power of the Holy Ghost, a 
member of Jesus Christ and his church ? 

•Answer — Yes. 

Fourthly 9 Dost thou assent to all the 
articles of the Christian religion, as 
they are taught here, in this Christian 
church, according to the word of God ; 
and purpose steadfastly to continue in 
the same doctrine to the end of thy life) 
and also, dost thou reject all heresies 
and schisms, repugnant to this doctrine, 
and promise to persevere in the com- 
munion of our Christian Church, not 
only in the hearing of the word, but 
also in the use of the Lord's Supper? 

•Answer— Yes. 

25 



386, THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORIES SUPPER, 

Fifthly : Hast thou taken a firm reso- 
lution always to lead a C iiristian life $ 
to forsake the world, and its evil lusts* 
as is becoming* the members of Christ 
and his church 5 and to submit thyself 
to all Christian admonitions ? 

•Answer — Yes. 

The good and great €*od mercifully 
grant his grace and blessing to this 
your purpose, through Jesus Christ— 
Amen* 



COMMUNICANT'S COMPANION. 



The Lord's Supper* 

HYMN 55. L. M.— Alfretou. 

1 -'TWAS on that dark, that doleful 

night, 
"When pow'rs of earth and hell arose, 
Against the Son of God's delight, 
And friends betrayed him to his foes t 

2 Before the mournful scene began, 
He took the bread, and hless'd, and 

brake $ 
What lore thro 9 all his actions ran ! 
What wand'rous words of grace he 

spake ! 

3 " This is my body, broke for sin. 
Receive and eat the living food *" 



THE SACRAMENT OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. 867 

Then took the cup, and bless'd the 

wine : 
" 'Tis the new covenant in my blood* 99 

4 For u§ his flesh with nails was torn, 
He bore the scourge, he felt the thorn $ 
And justice pour'd npon his head 
Its heavy veangeancc, in our stead. 

5 For us his vital blood wa§ spilt, 
To buy the pardon of our guilt ; 
When for blaek er imes of greatest size, 
He gave his soul a sacrifice. 

e " Do this, (he cried,) 9 till time shall end 
In memory of your dying friend : 
Meet at my table, and record 
The love of your departed Iiord." 

7 Jesus, thy feast we celebrate, 

"We show thy death, we sing thy name ; 
Till Thou return, and we shall eat 
The marriage supper of the Lamb. 

Beloved in the L<ord Jesus Christ, at- 
tend to the words of the institution of 
the holy supper of our I^ord Jesus 
Christ, as they are delivered by the 
holy apostle Paul, 1 Cor. xi. 23 — 30. 

" For I have received of the I^ord, 
that which also I delivered unto you 
that the laord Jesus, the satne night in 
which he was betrayed, took bread; 
and when he had given thanks, he 
brake it, and said, take, eat ; this is my 



388 THE SACRAMENT 07 THE LORD'S SUFFER. 

body, which is broken for you, this do 
in remembrance of me. And after the 
same manner also, he took the cup, 
when he had supped, saying, this cup 
is the new testament in my blood ; this 
do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remem- 
brance of me : for as oft as ye eat this 
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 
the Lord's death till he come. 'Where- 
fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, 
and drink this cup, of the Lord un- 
worthily, shall be guilty of the body 
and blood of the Lord. But let a man 
examine himself, and so let him eat 
of that bread, and drink of that cup $ 
for he that eateth and drinketh un- 
worthily, eateth and drinketh damna- 
tion to himself, not discerning the 
Lord's body." That we may now cele- 
brate the supper of the Lord to our 
comfort, it is above all things necessary, 

First: Rightly to examine ourselves. 

Secondly g To direct it to that end, for 
which Christ hath ordained and in- 
stituted the same, namely to his re- 
membrance. The true examination 
of ourselves, consists of these three 
parts. 

First: That every one consider by 
himself, his sins and the curse due to 
him for them, to the end that he may 
abhor and humble himself before God : 
considering that the wrath of God 
against sin is so great, that (rather 



THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUfrPER. $89 

than it should go unpunished) he hath 
punished the same in his beloved Son 
Jesus Christ, with the bitter and shame- 
ful death of the cross. 

Secondly $ That every one examine 
his own heart, whether he doth be- 
lieve this faithful promise of God, that 
all his sins are forgiven him, only for 
the sake of the passion and death of 
Jesus Christ, and that the perfeet righ- 
teousness of Christ is imputed and free- 
ly given him as his own, yea, so per- 
fectly, as if he had satisfied in his own 
person for all his sins, and fulfilled all 
righteousness. 

Thirdly: That every one examine 
his own conscience, whether he pur- 
poseth henceforth to shew true thank- 
fulness to God in his whole life, and 
to walk uprightly before him; as 
also, whether he has laid aside un- 
feignedly all enmity, hatred and envy, 
and doth firmly resolve henceforward 
to walk in true love and peace with 
his neighbour. 

All those, then, who are thus disposed, 
God will certainly receive in mercy, 
and count them worthy partakers of 
the table of his Son Jesus Christ. On 
the contrary, those who do not feel this 
testimony in their hearts, eat and drink 
judgment to themselves. 

Therefore, we also, according to the 
command of Christ and the apostle 



390 

Paul, admonish all those who are de* 
filed with the following sins, to keep 
themselves from the table of the I^ord, 
and deelare to them that they have no 
part of the kingdom of Christ ; sueh as 
all idolators, all those who invoke de- 
ceased saints, angels or other creatures, 
all those who worship images ; all en- 
chanters, diviners, charmers, and those 
"who confide in such enchantments; all 
despisers of God and his word, and of 
the holy sacraments % all blasphemers ; 
all those who are given to raise discord, 
sects and mutiny in church or state ; 
all perjured persons; all those who 
are disobedient to their parents and 
superiors ; all murderers, contentious 
persons, and those who live in hatred 
and envy against their neighbours ; all 
adulterers, whoremongers, drunkards, 
thieves, usurers, robbers, gamesters, 
covetous, and all who lead offensive 
lives. 

All these, while they continue in such 
sins, shall abstain from this meat, 
(which Christ hath ordained only for 
the faithful,) lest their judgment and 
condemnation be made the heavier. 
But this is not designed, (dearly belov- 
ed brethren and sisters in the Lord,) to 
deject the contrite hearts of the faith- 
ful, as if none might come to the sup- 
per of the Lord, but those who are 
without sin : for we do not come t<* this 



THE SACRAMENT OP THE LORD'S SUPPER. 391 

supper, to testify thereby that we are 
perfeet and righteous in ourselves ; but 
on the contrary, considering that we 
seek our life out of ourselves in Jesus 
Christ, we acknowledge that we lie in 
the midst of death : therefore, notwith- 
standing we feel many infirmities and 
miseries in ourselves, as namely, that 
we have not perfect faith, and that we 
do not give ourselves to serve God with 
that zeal as we are bound, but have 
daily to strive with the weakness of 
our faith, and the evil lusts of our flesh ; 
yet, since we are (by the grace of the 
Holy G-host) sorry for these weakness- 
es, and earnestly desirous to fight 
against our unbelief, and to live ac- 
cording to all the commandments of 
God: therefore, we rest assured that 
no sin or infirmity, which still remain- 
eth against our will, in us, can hinder 
us from being received of God in mer- 
cy, and from being made worthy par- 
takers of this heavenly meat and 
drink. 

JLet us now also consider, to what end 
the IiOrd hath instituted his supper, 
namely, that we do it in remembrance 
of him. Now after this manner are 
we to remember him by it. 

Firsts That we are confidently per- 
suaded in our hearts, that our Lord 
Jesus Christ, (according to the prom- 
ises made to our forefathers in the old 



£9f TH* SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

testament,) was sent of the Fattier into 
the world : that he assumed our flesh 
and blood; that he bore for us the 
wrath of God (under which we should 
have perished everlastingly) from the 
beginning of his incarnation, to the 
end of his life upon earth; and that 
he hath fulfilled, tor us, all obedience 
to the divine law, and righteousness : 
especially, when the weight of our sins 
and wrath of God pressed out of him 
the bloody sweat in the garden, where 
he was bound that wc might be freed 
from our sins : that he afterwards suf- 
fered innumerable reproaches, that we 
might never be confounded. That he 
was innocently condemned to death, 
that we might be acquitted at the 
judgment seat of God: yea, that he 
suffered his blessed body to be nailed 
to the cross — that he might fix thereon 
the handwriting of our sins; and hath 
also taken upon himself the curse due 
to us, that he might fill us with his 
blessings ; and hath humbled himself 
unto the deepest reproach and pains 
of hell, both in body and soul, on the 
tree of the cross, when he cried out 
with a loud voice, " my God, my God ! 
why hast Thou forsaken me ?" That 
we might be accepted of God, and 
never be forsaken of him : and finally 
confirmed with his death and shed« 
dins of his blood, the new and eternal 



THE SACRAMENT OF THM LORD'S SUPPER. 393 

testament, that covenant of grace and 
reconciliation, when lie said, it is fin- 
ished. 

And, that we might firmly believe that 
we belong to this covenant of grace, 
the L.ord Jesus Christ, in his last sup- 
per, took bread, and when he had 
given thanks, he brake it, and gave it 
to his disciples, and said, take, eat, this 
is my body which is broken for you, 
this do in remembrance of me ; in like 
manner also after supper, he took the 
cup, gave thanks and said, drink ye 
all of it ; this cup is the new testament 
in my blood, which is shed for you and 
for many, for the remission of sins ; this 
do ye as often as ye drink it in remem- 
brance of me : that is, as often as ye eat 
of this bread and drink of this cup, you 
shall thereby, as by a sure remem- 
brance and pledge, be admonished 
and assured of this my hearty love and 
faithfulness towards you ; that, where- 
as you should have suffered eternal 
death, I have given my body to the 
death of the cross, and shed my blood 
for you ; and as certainly feed and 
nourish your hungry soul with my cru- 
cified body, and shed blood, to ever- 
lasting life, as this bread is broken be- 
fore your eyes, and this cup is given to 
you, and you eat and drink the same 
with your mouth, in remembrance of 
me* 



394 THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

From this institution of tlie holy sup- 
per of our Lord Jesus Christ, we see 
that he directs our faith and trust to 
his perfect sacrifice, (once offered on the 
cross) as to the only ground and foun- 
dation of our salvation, wherein he is 
become to our hungry and thirsty souls, 
the true nteat and drink of life eternal. 
For by his death, he hath taken away 
the cause of our eternal death and mi- 
sery, namely, sin s and obtained for us 
the quickening Spirit, that we by the 
same, (which dweileth in Christ as in 
the head, and in us as his members,) 
might have true communion with him, 
and be made partakers of all his bless- 
ings of eternal life, righteousness and 
glory. 

Besides, that we by the same Spirit 
may also be united as members of one 
body in true brotherly love, as the holy 
apostle saith, "For we, being many, 
are one bread and one body : for we 
are ail partakers of that one bread." 
For as out of many grains one meal is 
ground, and one bread baked, and out 
of many berries being pressed together, 
one wine fioweth, and mixeth itself to- 
gether ; so shall we all, who by a true 
faith are ingrafted into Christ, be alto- 
gether one body , through brotherly 
love, for Christ's sake, our beloved Sa- 
viour, who hath so exceedingly loved 
us 5 and not only ®U®w this in word, 



THE SAOFAMENT OF THE .LORD'* SUPPER. .39$ 

but also in every deed towards one 
another. 

Hereto assist us, the Almighty God 
and Father of our ILord Jesus Christ, 
through his Holy Spirit. — Amen. 

That we may obtain all this, let us 
humble ourselves before God, and with 
true faith implore his grace. 

O most mereiful God and Father, we 
beseeeh Thee, that Thou wilt be pleas- 
ed in this supper, (in which we cele- 
brate the glorious remembrance of the 
bitter death of thy beloved Son Jesus 
Christ,) to work in our hearts through 
the Holy Spirit, that we may daily, 
more and more with true confidence, 
give ourselves up unto thy Son Jesus 
Christ, that our afflicted and contrite 
hearts, through the power of the Holy 
Ghost, may be fed and comforted with 
his true body and blood; yea, with 
him, true God and man, that only 
heavenly bread: and that we may no 
longer live in our sins, but he in us, and 
we in him, and thus truly be made par- 
takers of the new and everlasting tes- 
tament, and the covenant of grace. 
That we may not doubt but Thou wilt 
forever be our gracious Father, never 
.more imputing our sins unto us, and 
providing us with all things necessary, 
as well for the body as the soul, as thy 
beloved children and heirs s grant us 



396 THE 8ACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

also thy grace, that we may take up- 
on us our cross cheerfully, deny our- 
selves, confess our Saviour, and in all 
tribulations, with uplifted heads ex- 
pect our Iiord Jesus Christ front hea- 
ven, where he will make our mortal 
bodies like unto his most glorious body, 
and take us unto him in eternity. Our 
Father which art in heaven, &c. — 
Amen* 

Strengthen us also by this holy sup- 
per, in the Catholic undoubted Chris- 
tian faith, whereof we make confes- 
sion, with our mouths and hearts, say- 
ing: 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, 
maker of heaven and earth: and in 
Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; 
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered un- 
der Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead 
and buried, he descended into hell : the 
third day he rose again from the dead, 
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth 
om the right-hand of God the Father 
Almighty ; from whence he shall come 
to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the 
holy Catholic church ; the communion 
of saints ; the forgiveness of sins ; the 
resurrection of the body ; and the life 
everlasting. — Amen. 

That we may be now fed with the 



THE fcACRAMENT Or THE LORD'S StfPPER. 10? 

true heavenly bread, Jesus Christ, let 
us not cleave with our hearts unto the 
external bread and wine, but lift them 
up on high in heaven, where Christ 
Jesus is our advocate, at the right 
hand of his heavenly Father, whither 
all the articles of our faith lead us; 
not doubting, but we shall as certain- 
ly be fed and refreshed in our souls 
through the working of the Holy 
Ghost, with his body and blood, as we 
receive the holy bread and wine in re- 
membrance of him. 

In breaking and distributing the 
bread, the minister shall say : 

The bread which we break, is the 
communion of the body of Christ. 

And when he giveth the cup : 

The cup of blessing which we bless, 

is the communion of the blood of 

Christ. 

During the communion, there shall 
or may be devoutly sung, a psalm, or 
some chapter read, in remembrance 
of the death of Christ, as the 53d chap- 
ter of Isaiah, the 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 
and 18th chapters of John, or the 
like. 

After the communion the minister 
shall say i 

Beloved in the Lord, since the Lord 
hath now fed our souls at his table, 



898 THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

let us therefore jointly praise his holy 
name with thanksgiving, and every 
one say in his heart, thus : 

Bless the Lord, O my soul 5 and all 
that is within nie, bless his holy name. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits. 

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: 
who healeth all thy diseases. 

Who redeemeth thy life from destruc- 
tion, who crowneth thee with loving- 
kindness and tender mercies. 

The Lord is merciful and gracious, 
slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. 

He hath not dwelt 'with us after our 
sins, nor rewarded us according to our 
iniquities. 

For as the heavens are high above 
the earth, so great is his mercy towards 
them that fear him. 

As far as the east is from the west, so 
far hath he removed our transgressions 
from us. 

Like as a father pitieth his children, 
so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 

Who hath not spared his own Son, 
but delivered him up for us all, and 
given us all things with him. There- 
fore, God commendeth his love to- 
wards us, in that while we were yet 
sinners, Christ died for us; much 
more then, being now justified in his 
blood, we shall be saved from wrath 



THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, 399 

through him: for, if, when we were 
enemies, we were reconciled to God 
by the death of his Son; much more 
being reconciled, we shall be saved 
by his life. Therefore shall my mouth 
and heart show forth the praise of the 
Lord from this time forth for ever more. 
Amen. 

Let every one say with an attentive 
heart : 

O Almighty, merciful God and Fa- 
ther, we render Thee most humble 
and hearty thanks, that Thou hast of 
thy infinite mercy, given us thine only- 
begotten Son, for a mediator and a 
sacrifice for our sins, and to be our 
meat and drink unto life eternal, and 
that Thou givest us a lively faith, 
whereby we are made partakers of 
such thy benefits — Thou hast also been 
pleased, that thy beloved Son Jesus 
Christ should institute and ordain his 
holy supper for the confirmation of 
the same. Grant, we beseech Thee, O 
faithful God and Father, that through 
the operation of thy holy Spirit, the 
commemoration of the death of our 
Lord Jesus Christ may tend to the daily 
increase of our faith, and saving fel- 
lowship with him, through Jesus 
Christ thy Son, in whose name we con- 
clude our prayers, saying — Our Father 
who art in heaven, &c. 



400 THE ACRAMKNT OP THB LORD'S SUPPER, 

From the whole of the foregoing: 
description of the form of the adminis- 
tration of the lord's Supper, we learn 
the following to be the scriptural doc- 
trine, concerning this sacred institu- 
tion, viz : 

That our Saviour Jesus Christ did 
ordain and institute the sacrament of 
the holy supper, to nourish and sup- 
port those whom he hath already re- 
generated and incorporated into his 
family, which is his church. TYow 
those who are regenerated, have in 
them a two -fold life, the one corporal 
and temporal, which they have from 
the first birth, and is common to all 
men : the other spiritual and heaven- 
ly, which is given them in their second 
birth, which is effected by the word of 
the gospel, in the communion of the 
body of Christ ; and this life is not com- 
mon, but is peculiar to God's people. 
In like manner, God hath given us, for 
the support of the bodily and earthly 
life, earthly and common bread, which 
is subservient thereto, and is common 
to all men, even as life itself. But for 
the support of the spiritual and hea- 
venly life, which believers have, he hath 
sent a living bread, which descended 
from heaven, namely, Jesus Christ, 
who nourishes and strengthens the 
spiritual life of believers, when they eat 
him, that is to say, when they apply 



THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 401 

and receive liim by faith in the Spirit. 
Christ, that he might represent unto as 
this spiritual and heavenly bread, 
hath instituted an earthly and visible 
bread, as a sacrament of his body, 
and wine as a sacrament of his blood, 
to testify by them unto us, that, as cer- 
tainly as we receive and hold this sa- 
crament in our hands, and eat and 
drink the same with our mouths, by 
which our life is afterwards nourished, 
we also do as certainly receive by faith 
(which is the hand and mouth of our 
soul) the true body and Mood of Christ 
our only Saviour in our souls, for the 
support of our spiritual life. Now as 
it is certain and beyond ail doubt, that 
Jesus Christ hath not enjoined to us the 
use of his sacraments in vain, so he 
works in us all that he represents to us 
by these holy signs, though the manner 
surpasses our understanding, and can- 
not be comprehended hj us, as the ope- 
rations of the Holy CS-host are hidden 
and incomprehensible. In the mean 
time we err not, when we say, that 
what is eaten and drunk by us is the 
proper and natural body, and the pro- 
per blood of Christ. I£ut the manner 
of our partaking of the same, is not 
by the mouth, but 'hy the Spirit through 
faith. Thus then, though Christ sits 
at the right hand of his Father in the 
heavens, yet doth he not, therefore, 

26 



403 

cease to make as partakers of himself 
by faith. This feast is a spiritual table? 
at which Christ communicates him- 
self, "with all his benefits to us, and 
gives us there to enjoy both himself* 
and the merits of his sufferings and 
death, nourishing, strengthening and 
comforting our poor comfortless souls % 
by the eating of his flesh, quickening 
and refreshing them by the drinking 
of his blood* Further, though the sa- 
craments are connected with the thing 
signified, nevertheless, both are not re- 
ceived by all men : the ungodly indeed 
receives the sacrament to his condem- 
nation, but he doth not receive the 
truth of the sacrament. As Judas and 
Simon the sorcerer, both indeed re- 
ceived the sacrament, but not Christ, 
who was signified by it, of whom be- 
lievers only are made partakers, last- 
ly, we receive this holy sacrament in 
the assembly of the people of Crod, with 
humility and reverence, keeping up 
amongst us a holy remembrance of the 
death of Christ our Saviour, with 
thanksgiving: making there confes- 
sion of our faith, and of the Christian 
religion. Therefore, no one ought to 
come to this table, without having pre- 
viously rightly examined himself \ lest 
by eating of this bread and drinking 
of this cup, he eat and drink judgment 
to himself. In a word, we are excited 



INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER, 408 

by the use of this holy sacrament, to a 
fervent love towards God, and our 
neighbour. Therefore, we reject all 
mixtures and damnable inventions, 
which men have added unto, and 
blended with the sacraments, as pro- 
fanations of them : and affirm that we 
ought to rest satisfied with the ordi- 
nance, which Christ and his apostles 
have taught us, and that we must 
speak of them in the same manner as 
they have spoken* 



Instructions in relation to a worthy re- 
ception of the JLorei-s Supper. 

HYMN 58. L. M.-— Windham. 

1 LORD, I am thine, entirely thine, 
Purchased and sav'd by blood divine ; 
With full consent thine I would be, 
And own thy sovereign right in me. 

2 Here, Lord, my flesh, my soul, my all, 
I yield to Thee beyond recall ? 
Accept thine own, so long withheld $ 
Accept what I so freely yield. 

3 Grant one poor sinner more a place 
Among the children of thy grace ; 

A wretched sinner, lost to God, 

But ransom'd by ImmanuePs blood. 

4 Thine would I live— thine would I die, 
Be thine through all eternity ; 



404 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD^S SUFFER. 

The voir is past beyond repeal % 
And now I set the solemn seal. 

5 Be Thon the witness of my vow. 
Angels and men attest it too ; 
That to thy board I now repair? 
And seal the saered eontraet there* 

6 Here at that cross, where flows the 

blood, 
That bought my guilty soul for God ; 
Thee, my new master, now I call, 
And consecrate to thee my all. 

7 Do Thou assist a feeble worm, 
The great engagement to perform % 
Thy grace can full assistance lend, 
And on that grace I dare depend. 

It was a signal favour which was 
shown unto Simeon, as recorded by 
the evangelist : that he received the as- 
surance of the Holy Ghost, that he 
should not depart this life, until his 
eyes should see the Saviour of the world 
in the flesh; and in accordance with 
this promise, when he was led up into 
the temple, by the influence of the Holy 
Spirit, he was permitted to see the long 
promised Messiah. On this memora- 
ble occasion, he was so overjoyed on 
beholding the child J esus, that he took 
him into his arms, and embracing him 
exclaimed: "Iiord! now lettest Thon 
thy servant depart in peace, according 



INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 405 

to thy word, for mine eyes have seen 
thy Redeemer." Now this special, way, 
even a greater favour is bestowed upon 
thee, O humble and believing Chris- 
tian, so often as thou art invited by 
this blessed Saviour to approach unto 
his holy table, where thou mayest be- 
hold with thine eyes, receive with thy 
hands, and partake of with thy mouth 
the word and bread of life, for with 
these visible signs, (not, however, in 
and of them,) thou canst participate 
of the body and blood of the eternal 
Son of God, not indeed in a corporal, 
but in a spiritual manner,, (for his 
word is spirit and life,) but actually 
and really, for he is the bread of life 
which cometh down from heaven, and 
his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood 
is drink indeed, as he himself empha- 
tically says : John <$• 63, and 48. 50. 
53, not common, but a spiritual and 
soul-satisfying food, which pertaineth 
unto everlasting life. The food of an- 
gels — the preciousness of heaven— the 
flesh of thy Redeemer, which he repre- 
sents as crucified before thine eyes, and 
which he will impart unto thee, as as- 
suredly as thou exercisest a true and 
living faith in his atoning blood. 

But in order to receive such a divine 
favour, a thorough examination and 
preparation of soul, are indispensably 
necessary, according to the admoni- 



406 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORd'8 SUPPER. 

tion of tbe apostle Paul, 1 Cor. lis 
" Bat let a man examine himself, and 
so let bim eat of this bread and drink 
of this eup, for whosoever eateth 
and drinketh unworthily, eateth and 
drinketh damnation, not discerning 
the Lord's body." And, my dear friend, 
if God warned and forbade every iui- 
cireumeised person, on the penalty of 
death, to eat of the Paschal Lamb, 
and commanded even the circumcised 
not to approach unto this sacred ordi- 
nance, until after three days solemn 
preparation, how much more obvious- 
ly nesessary is it for those who would 
desire to approach unto this sacred 
feast of the Lord's supper, to enter pre- 
viously upon a due and solemn prepa- 
ration of soul ? 

But if you would sincerely desire 
thus to prepare, it is necessary for you : 

1. To acquire a fundamental know- 
ledge of the essential doctrines of the 
Christian religion — the ten command- 
ments — the subjects of prayer, as ex- 
pressed in the Lord's prayer, "Our 
Father," &c— the twelve articles of the 
Christian faith — the doctrine of the 
Trinity-— the elevated person and offi- 
ces of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ — his 
sufferings, obedience and merits, as 
also the institution of both the holy 
sacraments, viz : Holy Baptism and 
the Lord's Supper, especially the latter, 



INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 407 

in order that you may realize the ben- 
efits of the institution of this sacred 
ordinance : how you may be prepared 
to participate often of it t how to enjoy 
a comfortable remembrance of his bit- 
ter sufferings and death, "when at his 
table; and thus renew thy baptismal 
covenant, to the strengthening of thy 
faith — to assure thee of thy salvation, 
and by which he finally imparts him- 
self, as thy living Redeemer, with all 
his merits unto thee, to enjoy him for- 
ever. 

2. Again, you must enter upon a tho- 
rough examination of yourself, as re- 
lates to your former life and conduct, 
as also, especially the present frame 
and disposition of your soul, that you 
may thus become deeply sensible of the 
misery into which you have volunta- 
rily plunged yourself, and have there- 
by rendered yourself unworthy to ap- 
pear at such a heavenly feast* for this 
purpose, take the ten commandments 
of God, as the rule of thy life, and re- 
member how often and fearfully you 
have violated each one of them* Hum- 
ble thyself, therefore, under the mighty 
hand of €*od, and confess with an 
humble and broken heart, thy sins, 
and wrestle with him in supplication 
and prayer, for the forgiveness of thy 
sins, and the sanctification of thy soul, 
without which no one can see Ood.— 



408 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Heb. 12. A sid, inasmuch, as without 
Christ neither the one nor the other can 
be hoped for ; as he is the only and all*- 
sufficient Saviour, who has purchased 
us the forgiveness of our sins by his 
death, and sanctities us through his 
word and Spirit, according to the de- 
claration of the apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 30 : 
" Christ Jesus is made unto us of God, 
wisdom, and righteousness, and sancti- 
fication, and redemption: 99 and again, 
2 Cor. 5. 19—21 s " God was in Christ 
reconciling the world unto himself, not 
imputing unto them their sins, for he 
hath made him to be sin, (that is, an 
offering for sin) who knew no sin, that 
we might be made righteousness before 
God." Hence, take refuge to him — re- 
member his bitter sufferings and death, 
as the only ransom money of thy poor 
sinful soul — entreat the Father for the 
sake of these sufferings and death, to 
be merciful unto you, and pardon all 
your sins and transgressions — call on 
the Liord Jesus Christ to aid you, by his 
all-prevailing intercession, and his 
Holy Spirit, and thus manifest your 
sincere and longing desire, your hun- 
ger and thirst for the righteousness of 
God, in Christ Jesus — call upon God, 
as a triune God in covenant, with a 
contrite spirit, ever bearing in mind 
what the Psalmist says in the fifty-first 
Psalm s " The sacrifice which is accep- 



INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 409 

table to God, is a broken stud contrite 
spirit i a broken and burdened lie art 
God will not despise." Therefore, © 
Christian friend, exercise an implicit 
confidence in God, that lie will not re- 
ject your supplications when proceed- 
ing from such an heart, but will most 
assuredly hear and answer them in 
much mercy, according to his promises 
of grace made to his penitent believ- 
ing Children, when he says s " JLet the 
wicked forsake his way, and the un- 
righteous man his thoughts s and re- 
turn unto the Lord, and he will have 
mercy upon him, and to our God, who 
will abundantly pardon." — Is* 55. 7. 
" He that believeth on the Son, hath 
eternal life, but he that believeth not 
the Son, hath not life, hmt the wrath of 
God abideth on him."— John 3. 36. 

But bear also in mind, that true re- 
pentance and faith in Jesus Christ, 
are inseparably connected with a re- 
newing in the spirit of the mind, and 
a thorough amendment of our life, ac- 
cording to the admonition of the apos- 
tle Paul g « That ye put off* concerning 
the former conversation, the old man, 
which is corrupt according to the de- 
ceitful lusts % and be renewed in the 
spirit of your mind ; s^md. that ye put 
on the neiv man, which after God is 
created in righteousness and true holi- 
ness $"— Ephes. 4. S3— 84, and strive to 



410 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

renounce all manner of sin, so as to 
commit no sin knowingly or intention- 
ally, but on the contrary, to live godly, 
soberly and righteously according to 
God's holy will, to the utmost of your 
power. But be careful to see well to it, 
that you keep this solemn resolution, 
and that you do not, in any way, violate 
it ; for only such as " continue faithful 
until the end shall be saved." — Hath. 
24. 13. Be not like those who at times, 
especially when they intend to ap- 
proach to the Lord's supper form reso- 
lutions, nay, vow most solemnly unto 
God, to amend their lives, but after this 
solemn transaction is past, very seldom 
think of the fulfilment of their pro- 
mises, but continue to live in the com- 
mission of all their former sins, nay, 
only grow bolder in their high-handed 
rebellion against the God of heaven, 
and thus testify to all around them, 
that all their professions were false 
and hypocritical — but cheerfully go on, 
perfecting holiness in the fear of the 
Lord — strive against all manner of sin, 
and cease not, until you have broken 
off from all your sinful practices — seek 
opportunities to exercise yourself in 
doing good ; and be particularly care- 
ful to lay off all malice, hatred and ir- 
reconciliation, for nothing is more 
displeasing to God, and nothing is 
more opposite to the nature and de- 



INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 411 

sign of this holy sacrament, which is a 
feast of love, in which we are to ex- 
hibit in all its soul-thrilling effects, this 
cardinal virtue of the religion of the 
blessed Jesus— Love to God and love to 
our neighbour. 

Now if this be the true state of your 
soul, you may approach with joy to 
the supper of our Lord, and suffer no- 
thing to prevent you from approach- 
ing this holy table. Let not a view of 
your mi worthiness keep you back, for 
who is worthy to appear at the table 
of the great God our Saviour, and to 
partake of his flesh and his blood? 
JLet not your sins and short-comings in 
the sight of God, prevent you, for Je- 
sus came into the world, not for the 
righteous, but to seek and to save that 
which was lost, and hence he has in- 
stituted this supper, not for the righ- 
teous, or else he would have held it 
alone in heaven, but he instituted it for 
sinners, who sincerely repent, and ar- 
dently desire a participation in the 
merits of his atoning blood. There- 
fore, remember, my dear friend, the 
words of our blessed Redeemer : " Come 
unto me all ye that labour and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of 
me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, 
and ye shall find rest for your souls." 
IWath. 11. 88, 29. Let then the Ian- 



412 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

guage of your soul respond s " yes, bless- 
ed Jesus, in compliance with this invi- 
tation, I will come unto Thee, for I 
also belong to the number of tliose who 
are weary and heavy laden; as my 
sins are a burden too heavy for me to 
bear. €> liord assist and succour me ! 
I will ciieerftiily take upon me the yoke 
of thy commandments, deny myself, 
take ttp my cross and follow Thee ; O 
let my soul, therefore, find grace in thy 
sight, salvation in thy wonnds and rest 
in thy house ! 

Say not within you, my faith is too 
weak jet 9 I dare not approach this 
sacred ordinance, in which faith has 
to do all, for remember, that although 
your hand be weak, yet you may lay 
hold upon Jesus. And this Redeemer, 
who admonishes us, in his word, to re- 
ceive the weak in faith, will also do 
this unto thee, " for he will not break 
the bruised reed, nor quench the smok- 
ing flax. 9 ' Recollect further, for thy 
comfort, that this feast was not insti- 
tuted only for the strong, but also es- 
pecially for the weak, in order thereby 
to strengthen them, so as to enable 
them to apprehend the blessed Re- 
deemer, and to hold sweet communion 
with him, to an increase of their love, 
strengthen their faith and holy resolu- 
tions, to infix their hope more firmly 
on Jesus as the rock of ages, so that it 



INSTRUCTIONSIN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 413 

may keep them both sure and stead- 
fast in all tbe storms and trials of time, 
until they are introduced into the im- 
mediate presence of Jehovah, where 
there is fulness of joy and pleasures 
for them to enjoy for ever more. 

Now in all cases, where the ministers 
of the everlasting gospel, have, in the 
judgment of Christian charity, reason 
to believe, that applicants for Church 
communion, indulge such views and 
are thus disposed, it becomes their so- 
lemn duty to admit them into regular 
communion with the people of €*od, 
and professed followers of the meek 
and lowly Jesus. This sacred transac- 
tion is performed ~hy a vast majority 
of the accredited ambassadors of the 
l<ord Jesus Christ, in different branch- 
es of his church, hy the imposition of 
hands, in confirmation in the presence 
of the congregation, after the appli- 
cants for church communion, have 
answered the following or similar in- 
terrogations in the affirmative, viz : 

1. I>o you sincerely believe the scrip* 
teres of the old and new testament, to 
be the true and infallible word of God, 
from which nothing is at any time to 
be taken, and to which nothing is at 
any time to be added ? 

2. ]>o you believe the doctrines taught 
in this branch of the church of Jesus 
Christ, and in which you have receiv- 



414 INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

ed instructions, to be the true and per- 
fect doctrines of salvation ? 

3. Do you solemnly, as in the pre- 
sence of God and these witnesses, re- 
nounce the devil— the world — and all 
ungodliness and promise to yield a 
cheerful and unreserved obedience to 
the will and commandments of God ; 
to grow in grace, and holiness, and to 
persevere therein to your happy end ? 
So answer yes. 

Which being done, after a most so- 
lemn invoking of the special presence 
and favour of Almighty God, by the 
minister and congregation, (all kneel- 
ing before the throne of grace) to de- 
scend on all who are now renewing 
their covenant with Jehovah, the min- 
ister of the gospel lays his hands upon 
them, and pronounces this or a similar 
benediction on them, viz : 

" God the Father, God the Son and 
God the Holy Ghost, even our triune 
and covenant God, grant you his grace 
— protect you from all manner of evil, 
and enable you to grow in grace, and 
in holiness, and to persevere therein, 
unto your happy end. — Amen." 

The persons thus solemnly set apart 
and publicly dedicated to the service 
of God, now arise from their knees 
and receive the right hand of fellow- 
ship of the pastor or minister, thus 



SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 415 

confirming, as a, public evidence of 
their being* received into the full com- 
munion of the church of Jesus Christ. 



Self-examination and confession of sins, 
before approaching the Lord's Supper. 

HYMN58. L. M.— Portugal 

1 WHAT strange perplexities arise ? 
What anxious fears and jealousies? 
What crowds in doubtful light ap- 
pear ! 

How few, alas, approved and clear ! 

2 And what am I ? — My soul, awake, 
And an impartial survey take ; 
Does no dark sign, no ground of fear, 
In practice or in heart appear ? 

3 What image does my spirit bear ? 
Is Jesus form'd, and living there ? 
Say, do his lineaments divine 

In thought, and word, and action 
shine ! 

4 Searcher of hearts, O search me still ; 
The secrets of my soul reveal ; 

My fears remove — let me appear 

To God, and my own conscience clear* 

5 May I consistent with thy word. 
Approach thy table, O my Lord ! 
May I among thy saints appear ? 
Shall I a welcome sruest be there ? 



416 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

6 Have I the wedding- garment on, 
Or do I naked, stand alone ? 
O ! quicken, clothe and feed my soul. 
Forgive my sins, and make me whole* 

SELF-EXAMIMTIOX. 

O Almighty and holy God! Before 
I would venture to approach unto thy 
holy table, I know that it behooves me 
to sanctify my lips, by the humble con- 
fession of my sins— that mine eyes should 
prove a fountain of tears, when reflect- 
ing on my past transgressions — that I 
should wash mine hands in innocency, 
and purify my heart in the precious 
blood of my dear Redeemer, for thy 
word teaches me, that it is not meet to 
cast that which is sanctified to dogs, 
nor the precious pearl before swine — 
but what is so holy as the body and 
blood of thy Son, in which the rays of 
thy divine majesty shine forth in the 
most refulgent manner I "Where is 
there a pearl of so great a price to be 
found, as this held forth to my view in 
this holy sacrament? And where is 
there a dog or swine so impure as I am ? 
But I must confess, O Ood, that in con- 
sequence of my natural depravity and 
actual transgressions, no dog has so 
often turned to his vomit ; nor swine to 
her wallowing in the mire, as I have 
wallowed in sinful lusts, and into 
which I had sunk even deeper, if thy 



SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 417 

preventing grace had not been shed 
abroad in my heart. 

O Lord God ! It is impossible for me 
to remember, and much more impossi- 
ble to recount all my sins, which I have 
committed against Thee, in thought, 
word and deed. In my very best works, 
I find much imperfection — my most so- 
lemn and devout addresses, must, as of 
themselves, in consequence of being 
polluted with sin, be an abomination 
in thy pure and holy eyes, if Thou wert 
to enter into strict judgment of them ; 
and how much more, must all my sins 
be an abomination unto Thee ? 

The means which Thou hast intro- 
duced in thy law and holy gospel, and 
hast prescribed for my salvation, have 
only tended to increase my sins, and 
render them a greater burden, because 
I have, alas ! only abused them. Each 
line off thy holy commandments, which 
is calculated to direct me, as with a 
finger, in the way to heaven, has been 
perverted so as to direct me in the way 
to perdition. Adam only eat once of one 
forbidden fruit, but I have, alas I eaten 
ofttimes and of many forbidden fruits. 

1. For inasmuch as according to thy 
first commandment, Thou hast enjoin- 
ed it upon me, to seek my true happi- 
ness and felicity in Thee — place my im- 
plicit trust and confidence upon Thee, 
and await all my prosperity alone 

27 



418 

from thy hand ; hut instead of doing 
this, I have suffered my heart to he 
riveted to earthly things — my desires 
to be plaeed upon the honours of this 
world, on perishing riehes, nay, I have 
made idols of sinful lusts, and have 
loved them more than thy love and fa- 
vour, which are better than life. Thy 
kingdom and thy righteousness, which 
I should have been careful first to seek, 
I have only been too little concerned 
for. I have also, often murmured 
against thy all-wise providence, and 
have envied the prosperity of the un- 
godly, and on the other hand, I have 
stumbled and been offended at the 
crosses of thy people, and have been 
fretful under thy chastening rod — I 
have not sufficiently feared thy judg- 
ments against sin, nor trusted in thy 
promises, by which Thou designest to 
remove all my doubts — I have not been 
sufficiently troubled under a sense of 
thy displeasure, nor manifested the zeal 
I ought to have done, for thine honour 
and glory, nor sought Thee with my 
whole heart, in thy word and ordi- 
nances, so as to learn to know Thee, 
that I might cordially love Thee, nor 
loved Thee so as to dread exciting thy 
displeasure, when I should have been 
ready to do and to suffer any thing, 
rather than transgress thy holy will. 
3. Thou hast commanded me, in the 



f ELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE TUB LORD*g SUPPER. 419 

second commandment, not to make 
unto myself any graven image, nor 
any likeness thereby to represent unto 
myself thy incomprehensible majesty, 
or to worship Thee, but on the contra- 
ry, to regulate all my actions, accord- 
ing to thy word, which is the only true 
rule of my faith and conduct, the polar 
star of my heart, a lamp unto my feet, 
and a light unto my way, to lead me 
to worship Thee, as a Spirit, in spirit 
and in truth. But, alas ! I have oft- 
times served Thee according to my 
vain imaginations, and the delusive 
conceptions of my sinful heart. 

When I poured out my prayers be- 
fore Thee, or set under the preaching 
of thy word, I have not been so pre- 
pared as I should have been, but have 
performed both with little zeal and 
devotion, and have not represented 
unto myself thy sacred Majesty and in- 
finite wisdom, with which Thou not 
only fillest both heaven and earth, but 
with which Thou also searchest the 
hearts and triest the reins of the chil- 
dren of men, and knowest all the se- 
cret thoughts and intents of the heart. 

3. According to thy third command- 
ment, I am bound to make mention of 
thy holy name, (before which all knees 
must bow,) only in a holy and reveren- 
tial manner, to confess it with cheer- 
fulness, to worship it with zeal, and in 



420 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD 9 3 SUPPER. 

thoughts, words and deeds, to honour? 
praise and glorify thy holy name % but 
instead of doing this, 1 have taken thy 
holy name in vain — visited thy house 
more from eustom than from a spirit 
of zeal and engagedness in thy service, 
and have sought to please man more 
than God* And although I have set 
under the preaching of the gospel, yet 
I have received hut little benefit from 
the enjoyment of these sacred and pre- 
cious privileges, inasmuch as I have 
suffered my attention to be diverted 
from thy word, by vain and foolish 
thoughts, or suffered myself to be over- 
taken by untimely sleep. And although 
I have confessed thy go§pel, yet I have 
not led a life corresponding with the 
holy doctrines which I profess, but have 
often received the grace of God in vain* 
4. According to thy fourth com- 
mandment, Thou hast made it my 
solemn duty, to remember the Sabbath 
day, to keep it holy, as a monument of 
thy great work of creation, and 
which I am bound to dedicate wholly 
to thy service in the exercise of all the 
duties of religion, to the praise and 
honour of thy holy name ; and for this 
purpose, to abstain from all manner 
of unnecessary work, so that I may 
commence an eternal sabbath, already 
in this world, and in due time, spend a 
never-ending rest with Thee in hea- 



SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 421 

ven, font I humbly confess, that instead 
of doing this, I have let too many sab- 
baths run to waste* and have at best, 
come far short of sanctifying* the sab* 
bath as enjoined upon me in this com- 
mandment, for after spending an hour 
or two, in thy service, I have, alas ! oft- 
times spent the remainder of the day 
in an idle and unprofitable manner, 
and instead of improving these pre- 
cious seasons, by reading, hearing and 
meditating on thy word, how often 
have I either neglected these duties al- 
together or attended to them, at best, 
in an indifferent and drowsy frame of 
mind! 

5. In the fifth commandment Thou 
hast made it obligatory on sue, to love, 
honour and obey my parents and su- 
periors ; but how often, O Ood, have I 
been stubborn and disobedient towards 
them, and although I have not entirely 
cast off the yoke of obedience, yet I have 
frequently manifested great indisposi- 
tion and impatience as to performing 
their just and reasonable commands, 
and thus, instead of honouring my 
spiritual and temporal superiors, I 
have often heaped indignity upon their 
persons and standing. 

6. The sixth commandment prohibits 
me, not only front injuring my neigh- 
bour, as to his body, but also to be ever 
watchful, according to my foest abili- 



422 SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER.^ 

ties, to protect and promote his interests 
and welfare, as well as mine own. both 
as to body and soul, in this, and for a 
coming world. But how often have I 
by the intemperate nse and abuse of 
thy benefits, through envy, hatred and 
strife — through bad counsel and exam- 
ple, jeoparded the life and well-being 
of both myself and my neighbour; 
and when I have at times, been offend- 
ed by him, have I indulged a spirit of 
anger and revenge, so as to let the sun 
go down, not only once, but ofttimes 
over my anger, before I was recon- 
ciled with him again s and so far was 
I from loving mine enemies, and doing 
good unto them which hate me and 
despitefully use me, that I even rejoiced 
over their misfortunes, and wished all 
manner of evil to befall them. 

7. In the seventh commandment, 
Thou hast commanded me to avoid 
and flee from every opportunity and 
temptation to uncleanness, and to use 
all possible means to live a virtuous, 
pure and holy life ; in order to the per- 
formance of which, I should have been 
daily on my guard, and by watching. 
fasting and prayer, crucified the lusts 
of the flesh, and have preserved my 
heart and mind from all impurity, and 
my body which should be a temple for 
the Holy Ghost, pure and holy : but in- 
stead of doing this, Thou knowest, O 



SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORd's SUPPER. 428 

Cod, how often I have, by unclean 
thoughts, light and trilling words, and 
vain and foolish actions, rendered my 
soul utterly impure and abominable 
in thy pure and holy eyes. 

§. In the eighth commandment the 
duty is made obligatory upon me, to 
practice righteousness— to give unto 
each one of my fellow creatures his 
due — to be satisfied with my situation 
and circumstances, and to eat my bread 
in the sweat of my brow, and to give 
unto the poor and needy according to 
my ability, and to use the good things 
of this life, which Thou bestowest upon 
me, so as not to abuse them. But I con- 
fess with humility before Thee, that I 
have been an unfaithful servant — that 
I have performed but few deeds of cha- 
rity, and have thereby sinned against 
the poor; but I have moreover, been 
rather engaged in laying up treasures 
on earth, than in longing after heaven, 
and have been often tempted to em- 
ploy unjust means, for the accomplish- 
ment of these objects. 

9. According to thy ninth command- 
ment, I am bound at all times, to speak 
the truth without dissimulation — to 
judge of all things with charity, and 
to protect my neighbour's honour and 
character, to the utmost of my power. 
But instead of doing this, I have not 
only often envied him his good fortune, 



424 

but have also, ofttimes spoken evil of 
him, and whereas, I should have 
covered the nakedness and imperfec- 
tions of my superiors, with the mantle 
of love, I have followed too closely the 
example of Ham, and have sported 
with them, and have published them to 
others. I should also have endeavour- 
ed to live in strict conformity to all thy 
holy commandments, and to keep my- 
self unspotted from the world ; but I 
have indulged in many sins, and have 
polluted my conscience and injured my 
good name by my transgressions, nay, 
my whole life has been a tissue of false- 
hood, inasmuch as although I pro- 
fessed the form of godliness, yet I have 
denied the power thereof. 

10. In the tenth commandment 
Thou, O God ! hast enjoined upon me 
to be content with whatever Thou in 
thy inscrutable wisdom mayest see pro- 
per to bestow upon me, especially as 
Thou art wont to bestow much more 
good than I deserve, and much more 
than many of thy dear children in the 
world enjoy; but alas! I have often 
murmured when Thou hast given 
others more than I possess, and have 
indulged a sinful covetousness for for- 
bidden objects, and have thus been 
tempted to neglect rendering Thee 
suitable thanks for the favours which 
I receive at thy munificent hands. 



SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 425 

And what shall I say further ? All of 
thy holy commandments are exceed- 
ing broad, and extend not only to our 
words and actions, hut also to the very 
inmost thoughts, desires and intents of 
the heart. My proneness to sin, al- 
though I may not actually consent 
unto it — the lusts which arise within 
me against my will — the vain and fool- 
ish thoughts of the day, and the sinful 
dreams of the night, although they are 
not within my controul, are still dis- 
pleasing in thy sight. Ah ! who can 
say he is of a pure heart ? or who can 
understand his errors ? O Lord ! 
cleanse Thou me from secret faults, 
and grant me the free and full remis- 
sion of all my known and unknown 
sins. My sins bear down upon my 
heart, like a heavy burden, and yet I 
have not rent my heart with godly sor- 
row and repentance on account of 
them, so as (according to the religion 
of Jesus) to resolve in reliance on thy 
grace, to deny myself of all ungodliness 
and worldly lusts, and to live godly, 
righteously and soberly, so that I may 
at last, through thy grace, obtain the 
salvation of my soul, in a participation 
of the inheritance among the saints in 
light. The gifts and graces which 
Thou hast bestowed upon me, by thy 
Holy Spirit, I have not been careful to 
stir up within me, nor have I been 



426 8ELF-EXAMINATI0N BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

daily engaged in working out my soul § 
salvation, with fear and trembling, as 
I ought to have done. When I on for- 
mer occasions, have participated with 
thy people at thy table, I solemnly 
pledged myself to Thee, to amend my 
life, but I have as often violated this 
solemn promise, and have polluted my 
soul anew with all manner of sinful 
lusts and desires, so as to fall deeply 
into sin, by thus participating in an 
unworthy manner of the crucified bo- 
dy and shed blood of my Redeemer, 
which Thou hast ordained to cleanse 
my soul from all manner of sinful pol- 
lutions. 

O the wretched man that I am ! who 
shall deliver me from the body of this 
death ? Alas ! no one, but Thou, who 
art the only and sufficient Saviour of 
my soul, and who as such, hast given 
thy holy body and hast shed thy pre- 
cious blood in crimson streams, as a 
continued pledge of thy unchanging 
love, and which I am now about re- 
ceiving as a seal of my eternal salva- 
tion. 

Ah! liord ! wash Thou mine hands 
in innocency— purify my mouth by an 
humble and penitent confession of all 
my sins, cleanse Thou mine heart 
through a true and living faith in thy 
blood, in order that I may receive this 
bread of life, and this food of angels, 



42* 

with clean bands, and eat it with a 
sanctified mouth, and receive it into a 
pure and honest heart. 

O Lord ! grant me also grace in this 
examination of my soul, that I may 
find that my desires are pure and 
fervent — my knowledge sufficient — my 
penitence on account of my sins, not hy- 
pocritical — that my purpose of amend- 
ment is sincere and steadfast — my love 
upright and ardent, and that my faith 
may be a true and living faith. 

And when I am thus clothed with 
this wedding garment, O be pleased, 
gracious Saviour, to enable me to ap- 
proach unto thy holy table, with hu- 
mility of heart, and to retire from it 
again with joy and gratitude, and that 
I may receive, by faith, in connection 
with the broken bread — thy, for me, 
crucified body, and with the poured 
out wine — thy, for me, shed blood, and 
with both, the forgiveness of all my 
sins — adoption into the family of God, 
by grace — union with thy spiritual 
body, and the glorification of both my 
body and soul, in thy kingdom % amen, 
ILord Jesus I Amen. 



428 ENCOURAGEMENT AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

vt*»™uragement on the day of the Lord?* 

Supper. 

H Y M N 59. C. M.—Coleshill. 

1 YE wretched, hungry, starving poor* 
Behold a royal feast ! [store, 

Where mercy spreads her bounteous 
For ev'ry humble guest. 

ft See Jesus stands with open arms ; 
He calls, he bids you come ; 
Guilt holds you back, and fear 
alarms ; 
But see, there yet is room — 

3 Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart t 

There love and pity meet ; 
Nor will he bid the soul depart, 
That trembles at his feet. 

4 In him the Father reconciled ; 

Invites your souls to come ; 
The rebel shall be call'd a child, 
And kindly welcomed home. 

5 O ! come, and with his children taste 

The blessings of his love ; 
While hope attends the sweet repast 
Of nobler joys above. 

6 There, with united heart and voice 

Before th' eternal throne, 
Ten thousand thousand souls rejoice, 
In ectasies unknown. 



429 

7 And yet ten thousand thousand more, 
Are welcome still to come % 
Ye longing, souls the grace adore ; 
Approach, there yet is room. 

ENCOURAGEMENT. 

" Behold I stand at the door, and knock § 
he that will hear my voice, and open the 
door, Twill come in to him, and will sup 
with him, and he with me." — Rev. 3. 2©. 

As soon, O my soul, as thou awakest 
in the morning, on which thou art in- 
vited to approach unto the table of the 
Lord, encourage thyself in the Lord, 
and say: this is the day of grace on 
which salvation is brought nigh unto 
my soul. Arise, my soul, arise! Wake 
up from the dire sleep of sin — from all 
carnal thoughts and earthly cares and 
anxieties ; arise from all dead works, 
and Christ shall give thee light. To- 
day, is a day of refreshing— a day of 
joy and feasting — a day of reconcilia- 
tion, nay, the day of grace, on which 
I am to make my peace with God, 
therefore, arise ! Wake up, O my soul! 
Go up into the presentee of God ! Ho- 
sanna ! O Lord help t © Xord, grant 
prosperity, to the glory of thy holy 
name, and to the salvation of my never- 
lying soul — Amen. 

And is it possible, O God, that Thou 
eallest such a poor miserable creature 



430 ENCOURAGEMENT AT THE LORD'S SUPPER* 

as I am? — one who has so often de- 
spised thy mercy — so frequently excited 
thy displeasure — given the world and 
its sinful lusts, the preference, and have 
thereby richly merited thy wrath and 
the flames of hell. Thanks ! everlast- 
ing thanks be unto Thee, O Father in 
heaven ! for this unmerited mercy and 
loving kindness towards me, in calling 
me, unworthy as I am, to participate 
of this sacred feast. In dependence 
upon thy call, I will draw nigh with 
joy? — © may thy will be done; render 
me, O Lord, by thy grace, (through 
which I am so affectionately invited 
to draw nigh unto Thee, in the way of 
thine own appointment,) acceptable in 
thy sight, and preserve me continually 
in thy love. 

O Lord, be merciful unto me a poor 
sinner, for I stand in much need of thy 
mercy. As I am nothing without Thee, 
so I am unable to do any thing good 
without thine aid, for, O my Lord and 
my God, it is only through thy grace 
strengthening me, that I can do all 
things. Inasmuch, then, as it is neces- 
sary, on this day of help, that I enjoy 
much grace, to sincerely repent — to ex- 
ercise a godly sorrow for my sins, and 
to receive this soul-nourishing and re- 
freshing sacrament, at thy table, in the 
exercise of true devotion — fervent love 
—and a living and saving faith in thy 



DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD*S SUPPER. 431 

blood, O be pleased to perfect thy Al- 
mighty power in my weakness, and 
work in me, O tord, both to will and 
to do, according to thine own good 
pleasure, for Jesus Christ my Saviour's 
sake — Amen. 



Devotions when receiving the JLord 3 $ 

Supper. 

HYMN 60. P. M.— Calvary. 

1 Hark ! the voice of love and mercy 

Sounds aloud from Calvary; 
See ! it rends the rocks asunder, 

Shakes the earth, and veils the sky ! 
" It is finish'd !" 
Hear the dying Saviour cry. 

2 It is finish'd! O what pleasure 

Do these precious words afford ! 
Heav'nly blessings, without measure, 

Flow to us from Christ the JLord s 
It is finish'd ! 
Saints, the dying words record. 

3 Finish'd, all the types and shadows 

Of the ceremonial law! 
Finish'd, all that God had promis'd $ 

Death and hell no more shall awe : 
It is finish'd ! [draw. 

Saints, from hence your comforts 

4 Happy souls, approach the table, 

Taste the soul-reviving food ! 



432 DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

nothing's half so sweet and pleasant, 

As the Saviour's flesh and blood* 
It is finished ! 
Christ has borne our heavy load. 

5 Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs, 
Join to sing the pleasing theme ; 

All on earth, and all in heav*n, 
Join to praise Immanuel's name ? 

Hallelujah I 

Glory to the bleeding Lamb ! 

DEVOTIONS. 

"Hie that eateth my flesh and drinketh 
my blood* abideth in me, and I in him," 
says the Redeemer* — John ©. 56. 

O great God ! Graeious and merci- 
ful Father in Christ Jesus ! Thou in- 
vitest me once more to the communion 
of the treasures of thy grace, as Thou 
hast prepared the table before mine 
eyes, and callest me to participate of 
the pledges of thy love, and the seals 
of thy covenant, which Thou hast esta- 
blished in Christ Jesus the Son of thy 
love. 

When I, however, remember that 
Thou art a holy God, nay, that Thou 
art holiness itself, and that Thou wilt 
be sanctified by all them, who would 
approach unto Thee; but that I am 
entirely impure and polluted, as to 
soul and body, in my whole life and 



DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 433 

actions. I am cast down and am 
afraid to appear at this sacred feast ; 
for X know, O Ood, that no one can ap- 
pear acceptably in thy presence ; but 
in the beauty of holiness, clothed in a 
precious wedding garment ; consisting 
of the most excellent of heavenly gifts 
and graces — penitence for sin— true 
knowledge of a saving faith — fervent 
love towards Thee and my neighbours 
— new obedience— undissembled holi- 
ness — love and zeal in doing all man- 
ner of good works, 

ITIy heart, therefore, sinks under dis- 
couragement, as I can scarcely venture 
to approach unto Thee, inasmuch as I 
am poor and naked, being not clothed 
with any of these divine virtues. For, 
on examining myself, I find so much 
blindness of mind, that I am so often 
lead otf from the narrow way of holi- 
ness ; that my faith is so weak and 
wavering, that it scarcely deserves the 
name — that my obedience is so imper- 
fect, that I more frequently oppose, 
than do thy holy will — that my love is 
so faint, that it almost expires — that 
my repentance is so transient, that I 
daily fall into errors and sin. How of- 
ten am I, in the midst of my devotional 
exercises without zeal, and unfruitful 
in good works ? All my righteous- 
ness and holiness is like unto a filthy 
garment ; and above all, my heart is 



434 

frequently so hard and impenitent, 
that £ feel no concern about those 
things which belong to my peace; and 
my desires after Thee, O blessed Jesus, 
are cold/ although Thou art my only 
Saviour and Redeemer. Alas ! alas I 
how great is the depravity of my hard 
and stony heart I 

ftow, O liord my €*od, shall I ap- 
proach ? Ah ! how shall I stand before 
Thee ? Shall I flee ?— but whither ? O 
!Lord ! two things press sorely upon my 
conscience ; on the one hand, my con- 
science accuses me of many great and 
grievous sins — thy holy law thunders 
the sentence of condemnation and 
death, in mine ears — thy justice and 
holiness till me with terror, and thy 
wrath threatens me with eternal per- 
dition. On the other hand, thy grace 
affords me a pleasing hope — my Sa- 
viour exclaims : come unto me all ye 
that are weary and heavy laden with 
sin, and I will give you rest 5 and these 
holy signs and seals before me 9 are 
pledges of thy grace and loving-kind- 
ness. 

O ! then for counsel ! Shall I remain 
at a distance, because I am a sinner ? 
Shall I refuse to approach a throne of 
grace, because I am wretched and 
heavy laden? Shall I not go to this 
all-sufficient fulness of thy grace, be- 
cause I am so indigent ? Ah, no I I 



DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD'S IUPPER. 435 

have come, because the greatness of 
my misery and necessities demand a 
speedy and powerful help and relief. 
Thou art indeed a righteous judge of 
all stitf-necked sinners who remain 
out of Christ z but Thou art also, a 
compassionate Father, to all such as 
are in Christ Jesus — with Thee there is 
mercy and forgiveness, not only, that 
Thou mayest be feared, but that we 
may also put our trust in Thee; and 
this I can certainly do, for Thou hast, 
for this purpose, given thine only be- 
gotten and well beloved Son into death, 
to reconcile me with thyself ; nay, for 
this purpose, O blessed Jesus, didst 
Thou come into the world, that Thou 
mightest redeem me from all iniquity, 
and make me happy in heaven. Wow, 
for sealing unto me this grace, Thou 
givest me these holy signs and seals, 
that my faith may foe thereby strength- 
ened and confirmed, and that I may 
taste and experience the loving-kind- 
ness and tender compassions of the 
iLord towards me, a sinner. 

I villi, therefore, approach unto 
Thee, in this ordinance, with heart- 
felt sorrow and penitence for sin 5 — I 
confess, deplore and detest my sins and 
short-comings in thy sight ; and I be- 
seech Thee most fervently, O Ood, to 
break my hard and stony heart yet 
more ; — I believe and place all my hope 



430. DEVOTIONS AT THE LORD ? S SUPPER. 

and confidence in thy free and unmer- 
ited mercy and grace, and on the mer- 
its of Jesus Christ my only Redeemer J 

be pleased to strengthen my faith 5 — 

1 would come with a renewed resolu- 
tion, t& amend my life and conduct % © 
liord, enable me by thy grace, to not 
only will? but also to do, according to 
thy good pleasure. 

I now approach, also, O blessed Sa- 
viour, to receive according to thy com- 
mand, the consecrated bread and 
wine, to the preservation, strengthen* 
ing and refreshment of my spiritual 
life* O enable me to feed by faith, on 
thy body, which was crucified for me, 
and refresh me hy thy precious blood, 
that was shed for the forgivness of my 
sins* 

Unto Thee would I commit myself, 
as to soul, body and spirit, both in life 
and death, © ratify and confirm unto 
me, therefore, thy grace — establish me 
in a joyful hope — permit me to experi- 
ence peace and joy in niy soul — strength- 
en me by thy heavenly manna, whilst 
I have to combat in the wild wilder- 
ness of this life, until I, at length ar- 
rive on the imperishable shores of the 
heavenly Canaan, in the enjoyment of 
the rest prepared for thy people. Per- 
mit me, therefore, now to be a partici- 
pator with thy people here at thy table, 
in this kingdom of thy grace, so that 



HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. 437 

I may also, in due time, be permitted 
to sit down at thy table, with Abra- 
ham Isaac and Jacob, in the king- 
dom of thy glory in heaven — Amen and 
Amen. 



Holy ejaculations, when the believing 
communicant approaches to the JLord's 
Supper* 

HYMN 61. P. M.— Mendon. 

1 VAUV delusive world adieu. 

With all of ereature good, 
Only Jesus I'll pursue, 

Who bought me with his blood ; 
All thy pleasures I'll forego, 
I'll trample on thy wealth and pride; 
Only Jesus will I know. 

And Jesus crucified ! 

2 Other knowledge I disdain, 
'Tis all but vanity % 

Christ, the Lamb of Cfod, wag slain, 

He tasted death for me ! 
Me to save from endless wo, 
The sin atoning victim died ; 
Only Jesus will I know, 

And Jesus crucified I 

3 Him to know is life and peace, 
And pleasure without end, 
This is all my happiness, 

On Jesus to depend ; 



i 



435 HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD 5 S SUPPER. 

Daily in his grace to grow, 
And ever in his love abide ; 
Only Jesus will I know, 
And Jesus crucified ! 

4 O that I could all invite, 
This saving truth to prove ; 
Show the length, and breadth, and 
height, 
And depth of Jesus 9 love ? 
Fain I would to sinners show, 
This blood alone by faith applied | 
Only Jesus will I know* 
And Jesus crucified J 

HOL.Y EJACULATIONS. 

"Blessed are they which are called to 
the marriage supper of the JLamb." — 
Rev. 19. 9. 

1. When the communicant approach- 
es the table. 

Behold! O blessed Saviour, I ap- 
proach unto thy table, where my hun- 
gry and thirsty soul longs and desires 
for Thee. Here I am, O Jesus, that my 
soul may be satisfied with good. O be 
pleased to nourish and refresh unto 
life eternal. O impart unto me, in 
thine infinite and everlasting love, the 
merits of thy crucified body and shed 
blood, after which my soul so earnestly 
hungers and thirsts. O blessed Jesus, 
with desire do I look unto Thee, and 



fcOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD** SUPPER. 4S9 

ir ait with longing of soul, upon Thee, 
for the communications of thy love* 

2. When the communicant sees the 
bread broken and the wine poured 
out. 

O my dear Redeemer, how mueh 
didst Thou suffer — how awfully was 
thy sacred body torn and mangled, and 
thy precious blood shed ! This was all 
done, not only for, but also through my 
great and grievous sins ; — they pressed 
too heavily upon thy soul, which caused 
thy sweat to fall like great drops of 
blood, to the ground. My sins were the 
thorns, the scourge, the nails, the spear, 
by which thy precious body was so in- 
humanly broken and mangled, and 
thy precious blood was made to How. 
O Lord Jesus, may thy crucified body 
and shed blood, be applied to heal nay 
wounded soul from all manner of sin. 

3. When the communicant receives 
the consecrated bread. 

Now, be pleased to enable me, by 
faith, to receive Thee, © blessed Jesus, 
into the inmost recesses of my soul, so 
that Thou mayest be as intimately and 
really united with me, by thy Spirit, as 
the bread and wine are united with 
my body. 

O blessed and holy bread ! which re- 
presents the Bread of Life; I receive 
Thee, © precious Saviour ! who wast 



440 HOLY EJACULATIONS AT THE LORD S SUPPER. 

not only given unto death, for me, but 
art also given with all thy saving 
benefits, by faith, to me. O Thou true 
Bread of heaven ! be pleased to 
strengthen and nourish my soul with 
thy crucified body unto life eternal, so 
that my soul may hunger no more for- 
ever. 

4. When the communicant receives 
the consecrated wine* 

O soul-satisfying refreshment ! which 
represents the precious blood which 
flowed from the side of my dear Re- 
deemer, to heal all the wounds of my 
soul, and to cancel all my sins and 
transgressions. O Lord Jesus, may this 
blood purify and cleanse my sinful 
heart, that I may thereby enjoy peace 
and rest for my soul, so that it may 
never thirst. 

5. Ejaculations after receiving the 
sacrament. 

O my dear, once crucified, but now 
glorified Redeemer, I have now re- 
ceived Thee, anew in my soul, that I 
may be united with Thee, as the 
branch is unto the vine, and as the 
bread and wine are united with my 
body. Now it is, as Thou knowest, sny 
heart's sincere desire, that thy crucifi- 
ed body, and thy precious blood, which 
was shed for my sins, may be as really 



DEVOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 441 

treasured up in my soul, by the influ- 
ence and communion of thy Holy Spi- 
rit, as I have just received this broken 
bread and poured wine into my body. 
O J esus ! I would receive Thee, with 
all thy gifts and benefits ; dwell in fu- 
ture within my heart, so that I may be 
enabled to say, with the full assurance 
of faith s my beloved is mine and I am 
his ; I am crucified with Thee ; I live, 
yet not I, but Jesus lives in me ; Thou 
hast loved me and given thyself into 
the death for me. 



Devotional exercises after the JLord 9 $ 

Supper. 

HYMN 62. S. M.— Silver Street. 

1 O bless the liord, my soul ! 
I^et all within me join : 

And aid my tongue to bless his name* 
Whose favours are divine. 

2 O bless the £<ord, my soul I 
Nor let his mercies lie, 

Forgotten in unthankfulness, 
And without praises die. 

3 'Tis he forgives thy sins ; 
'Tis he relieves thy pain; 

'Tis he that heals thy sicknesses, 
And makes thee young again. 



448 DETOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPElli 

4 He crowns thy life with love, 
When r ansom - d from the grave ; 

He, that redeem'd my soul from hell, 
Hath sovereign pow'r to save. 

5 He tills the poor with good, 

He gives the sutT'rers rest ; [prond, 
The Lord hath judgments for the 
And justiee for th- opprest. 

6 His wond'rous works and ways 
He made by Moses known ; 

But sent the world his truth and graee, 
By his beloved Son* 

THANKSGIVING. 

"Jtly beloved is mine and I am his," 
says the bride to .Jesus Christ. — Cant. 2. 
16. " JBtess the JLord, O my soul? and 
alt that is within me. bless his holy name. 
Bless the LiOrd, O my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits •• who forgiveth all 
thine iniquities 9 who healeth all thy dis- 
eases § who redeemeth thy life from de- 
struction ,• who crowneth thee with lov- 
ing kindness and tender mercy." — Ps. 
103. 1—4, 

© my God — my Father— my Saviour 
— my Helper, and the Author of all my 
comfort! In what exalted strains of 
gratitude, shall I praise, laud, magnify 
and adore Thee, for all the manifesta- 
tions of thy wondrous grace towards 



44$ 

me, a poor unworthy sinner, from 
time to time, but more especially, on 
the present day and occasion ? It was 
not enough for Thee to create me 
originally, after thy glorious image, 
when I was brought into existence, but 
Thou hast also created me anew in 
Christ Jesus, by thy Spirit, after I had 
apostatized from Thee, and lost thine 
image. 

It was not enough for Thee, O I^ord ! 
to provide for and protect me as to my 
body, from evil and danger, but Thou 
hast also blessed me, as to my soul, with 
spiritual benefits, and provided for me 
a better, nay, an eternal life beyond the 
grave. Of this, Thou hast given me 
this day, the most solemn pledges at 
thy table. I may now, therefore, ex- 
claim, in thine own language : " It is 
finished!" My covenant is renewed — 
ratified and confirmed with Thee. 

O blessed ! thrice blessed be thy holy 
name, O Jesus! my Saviour, that it has 
pleased Thee, to condescend to come in 
unto me, and sup with me according to 
thy promise. How could I, as a sinful 
creature, anticipate such distinguished 
blessings? Is it possible, that Thou 
wilt hold communion with such a sin- 
ner as I am, nay, even permit me to 
feed by faith, on thy sacred body and 
blood? Well may I be astonished at 
thy great condescension and incom- 



444 DEVOTIONS AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

prehensible love towards me. O Lord, 
grant that I may ever remember this, 
and evince most fervent gratitude to- 
wards Thee. As Thou hast come in 
unto me, O Thou Blessed of the ILord ! 
be ever zealous for thine house, and the 
place where Thou dweliest. Permit 
no unclean guest of impure thoughts 
or desires to intrude into this temple of 
thine. But O Lord, ever preserve me 
from polluting thy holy garment, with 
which Thou hast clothed me, or from 
violating the covenant, which Thou 
ratified and sealed, or the vows which 
I have made unto Thee, so that I may 
liot forfeit my birth-right to a mansion 
%m my Father's house in heaven. 

May I be continually willing and 
ready for every good word and work, 
so that my life may ever be conformed 
unto thy sufferings and death, and that 
I may abound more and more in thy 
love and favour, and be found in the 
great day of the Lord, clothed with the 
wedding garment, having on my body 
and soul, the seal of Jesus my Saviour, 
and receive the soul- thrilling wel- 
come : come ye blessed of my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you, 
from the foundation of the world ; and 
thus may I be forever with the Lord ! 
—Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen. 



PRAYER AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 445 

Prayer of one 9 who has just been at the 
JLord's table, but who has enjoyed little 
or no refreshing from the presence of 
the Lord* in participating of this sa« 
cred ordinance. 

H Y M N 63. C. M.-— Burstal. 

1 O FOR a closer walk with God, 

A calm and heavenly frame $ 
A light to shine upon the road, 
That leads me to the Lamb ? 

2 Where is the blessedness I knew 

When first I saw the Lord? 
Where is the soul-refreshing view 
Of Jesus, and his word? 

3 What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd! 

How sweet their memory still ! 
But they have left an aching void 
The world can never fill. 

4 Return, O Holy I>ove, return, 

Sweet messenger of rest I 
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, 
And drove Thee from my breast* 

5 The dearest idol I have known, 

Whatever that idol be, 
Help me to tear it from thy throne. 
And worship only Thee. 

6 So shall my walk be close with God* 

Calm and serene my frame ; 
So purer light shall mark the road 
That leads me to the Lamb. 



446 PRATER AFTER THE LORD'S IUPPKR. 

" I sought him whom my soul loved, hut 
I found him not; I called unto him, but he 
answered me not." — Cant. 3. 1. and 5. 8. 

Gracious and merciful God and Fa- 
ther ! I, as a poor and unworthy sin- 
ner, appeared at thy holy table, in com- 
pliance with thine invitation and com- 
mand, and have received the holy signs 
and seals, with which Thou art wont 
to ratify and confirm unto all who ap- 
pear, as worthy guests at thy table, the 
forgiveness of their sins, and sweet and 
endeared communion with Thee and 
thy Son Jesus, as the Bride-groom and 
Redeemer of their souls ; and have no- 
ticed how others of my dear brethren 
in the I^ord, rejoiced in spirit, and re- 
turned Thee their fervent thanksgiv- 
ing, for the blessings Thou didst bestow 
upon them ; but I, alas ! wretched sin- 
ner that I am, felt distressed and bowed 
with much anxiety. Alas! my heart 
is insensible, nay, almost dead, and 
can scarcely raise its desires any more 
to Thee ; my faith and hope are so 
weak, that I almost faint by the way, 
and although my soul should have 
been strengthened and confirmed at 
thy table ; yet instead of this, I am more 
terrified and cast down than before. 

O Lord my God ! how miserable do I 
feel ? And wilt Thou hide the light of 
thy countenance any longer from me, 



PRATER AFTER THE LORl/s frUPPER. 447 

and permit me to sit in tlie shades of 
darkness. Wilt Thou any longer with- 
hold comfort from my poor comfortless 
soul ? Shall I continue to hunger and 
thirst, and wilt Thou not nourish and 
refresh me ? Shall I continue to seek 
Thee, sorrowing, and shall I not find 
grace in thy sight ? Shall I continually 
sigh and cry unto Thee, and wilt thou 
not wipe away the tears from mine 
eyes? Or hast Thou forgotten to he 
gracious, and turned thy compassion 
into wrath ? Alas ! what am I to think 
of this? The reason why I was not 
comforted to day, must be found in 
mine own soul ; it must be because of 
some secret poison, which lurks in 
mine heart, which has thus impeded 
my growth in grace, and has so op- 
pressed my soul ; there must be some 
accursed Achan in the citadel of mine 
heart, which causes me to fear and flee 
before mine enemies ; my preparation 
for this sacred transaction, has either 
been too imperfect, or my heart and 
soul have been surrounded with too 
many imperfections and blemishes to 
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my 
strength and my Redeemer. 

I acknowledge, O Lord, thy righte- 
ousness — I am well convinced that 
Thou wouldst not have permitted me 
to lack any good thing, if my sins had 
not induced and compelled Thee to do 



-148 PRATER AFTER THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

it. I did not appear before Thee, and 
at thy tahe in a suitable manner, and 
hence Thou withholdest the blessing 
and comfort, which Thou art wont to 
bestow, in this feast of love divine. 

But, O gracious Crod I I will not de- 
spair, but resolve on seeking Thee, 
with more purpose of heart, for Thou 
art wont to hide the light of thy coun- 
tenance from thy children, and to de- 
prive them of the joy of thy life-giving 
favour, for a season, in order that they 
may, thereby, be led to seek thy face, 
with more fervent cries and tears, and 
when they have at length found favour 
in thy sight, to lead them to appreciate 
it more highly, and to preserve this 
precious pledge of thy love, as the ap- 
ple of their eye. 

I would, therefore, prostrate myself 
before thy throne, O Lord, and beseech 
Thee, most earnestly, to come to mine 
aid, with the comforts of thy good 
Spirit. Strengthen my weak faith, 
which is as small as a grain of 
mustard-seed, and make it a fruitful 
tree of righteousness. Confirm my 
sinking hope, and cause it to take deep 
root in thy promises. And, O €fod, 
sanctify my heart-renew it by thy 
power, and give it life through the in- 
fluences of thy Holy Spirit— purify it 
by the blood of the everlasting cove- 
nant — break it more and more in pieces 



449 

irith the hammer of thy word — melt it 
more thoroughly by the influences of 
thy Spirit, and erer guide it according- 
to thy Holy will. 

Comfort, O JLord, my agonized soul 
and permit me soon to experience the 
loving efficacy of this bread, which 
cometh down from heaven ; and should 
it not please Thee to satisfy my soul 
frith that fulness which maketh the 
soul drunk frith lore and joy in others, 
O be pleased to impart, at least, such 
communications of thy favour, as will 
keep my anxious soul from fainting 
within me. If I am not permitted to 
partake abundantly of the bread of 
thy children, O be pleased to grant 
that I may receive the crumbs of thy 
grace, which fall from thy table, 
among the dogs. I frill, moreover, O 
XfOrd, not despair, nor suffer my soul 
to be entirely cast down within me. 
Thy fvord says s seek ye my face $ there- 
fore, thy face, © JLord, frill I seek, and 
will continue to cry, until Thou con- 
descendest to bless me. 

Nay, it is already a blessing, that I 
am mot permitted, in the agony of my 
soul, entirely to despair, but am still so 
anxiously desirous to obtain grace in 
thy sight. Well may I exclaim, frith 
the mother of Sampson : If the I^ord 
desired to slay me, he would not hare 
done this. Why then, O my soul, art 

29 



450 PRAYER AFTER THE LORD*S SUFFER* 

Thou so east clown? or why so disquiet* 
ed within me? Mope thou in Ctod, for 
thou shalt yet praise him, who is the 
light of thy countenance, and thy God* 
He will not break the bruised reed, nor 
quench the smoking flax, but by his 
own Almighty arm, carry on the "work 
of his grace, and make his strength 
perfect in thy weakness. 

O JLord ! I am poor and needy, there- 
fore, remember me in mercy? and 
strengthen and comfort me in my mis- 
ery. I will Trait upon Thee, the God 
of my salvation ! O comfort me with 
thy Spirit, lead me by thy counsel, and 
receive me at last into glory, where 
sighing and sorrow, shall forever flee 
away, and where Thou shalt wash 
away all tears from mine eyes, and 
grant me a fulness of joy in thy pre- 
sence, and pleasures forevermore at 
thy right hand. O Lord God Almigh- 
ty, most gracious and merciful, hear 
these my humble petitions and suppli- 
cations, for Jesus' sake*— Amen* 



PART III. 

CONTAINING 
INSTRUCTIONS, HYMNS, AND PRAYERS, 

NOT ONLY FOR THE SICK AND DYING, 

BUT ALSO, 

APPLICABLE TO ALL OTHER OCCASIONS. 



Instructions and advice how to address 
sich persons* 

HYMN 64. 8 4—8,8,4. P. M.— Welsh Melody. 
1. 

THERE'S a friend above all others, 

Oil, how he loves ! 
His is love beyond a brother's, 

Oh, how he loves ! 
Earthly friends may fail and leave us, 
This day kind, the next bereave us, 
But this friend will ne'er deceive us, 

Oh, how he loves ! 

2. 
Rlessed Jesus! would' st thou know him, 

Oh, how he loves ! 
Oive thyself e'en this day to him, 

Oh, how he loves ! 



452 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICE. 

Is it sin tli at; pains and grieves thee* 
Unbelief and trials tease thee ? 
Jesus can from all release thee, 
Oh, how lie loves ! 

3. 

liove this friend who longs to save thee? 

Oh, how he loves I 
Dost thou love ? He will not leave thee? 

Oh, how he loves ! 
Think no more then of to-morrow, 
Take his easy yoke and follow, 
Jesus carries all thy sorrows. 

Oh, how he loves I 

4. 

All my sins shall be forgiven. 

Oh, how he loves I 
Backward all thy foes he driven, 

O, how he loves I 
Best of blessings he'll provide thee, 
Nought but good shall e'er betide thee, 
Safe to glory he will guide thee, 

Oh, how he loves I 

5. 
Pause, my soul ! adore and wonder, 

Oh, how he loves J 
Nought can cleave this love asunder, 

Oh, how he loves ! 
Neither trial, nor temptation, 
Doubt, nor tear, nor tribulation. 
Can bereave us of salvation * 
Oh, how he loves I 



INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 45$ 

6. 
let us still this love be viewing? 

Oh, how lie loves ! 
And though faint keep on pursuing*, 

Oh, how he loves ! 
He will strengthen eaeh endeavour, 
And when pass'd o'er Jordan's river* 
This shall be our song forever, 

Oh how he loves I 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

"•find we desire that everyone of you 9 
do show the same diligence, to the full 
assurance of hope unto the end $ that ye 
he not slothful, hut followers of them, 
who through faith and patience inherit 
the promises." — Heb. ©. 11, IS. 

It is well known, that many divines 
in England, Holland, France and 
other countries, have rendered the 
church of Jesus Christ, and the world, 
most important services, by writing 
and publishing various books ou the 
subject of comforting tlie sick, in all 
manner of circumstances, so that to 
the superficial observer, it might ap- 
pear alltogether unnecessary to add 
any more to -what has already been 
published on this subject 5 but in rela- 
tion to this, we may safely say, that too 
much correct information cannot be 
disseminated owjl a subject of which we 
can never learn enough. In order that 



454 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 

I may render this work what it pro- 
fesses to he, in the title page: "A Chris- 
tian's Companion," I shall now pro- 
ceed to submit a few thoughts on the 
subject of addressing the sick and af- 
flicted ; not, however, with a view of 
confining any of the ministers of the 
gospel, or any of Ood's dear people to 
this, or any other mode of visiting and 
adressing the sick, but only to repre- 
sent to all, who may read this publi- 
cation, the means which have been 
adopted, and proved successful, in the 
hands of many of the servants of the 
JLord Jesus Christ, in administering 
comfort, and imparting aid to many 
of the sick and afflicted sons and 
daughters of Adam. 

It is beyond all doubt, one of the 
most solemn and important duties, in- 
cumbent on a pastor of the flock of 
Christ, to know well, how to visit the 
sick and afflicted, in the most suitable 
and profitable manner, so as to ad- 
minister seasonable instruction — effi- 
cacious consolation, and to prepare 
such for a happy exit from time to 
eternity. To be able to do this, it is 
highly necessary to make due prepa- 
ration for this arduous task. The first 
thing then, that is here necessary, ac- 
cording to my opinion is, that the min- 
ister of the gospel or pious friend, who 
visits the sick, should not only address 



INSTRUCTIONS WHUN VISITING SICK. 455 

many appropriate and comforting 
passages of sacred scripture, in succes- 
sion unto the sick s but that he follow 
carefully, the example of an able and 
experienced physician, who when he 
visits the sick, especially if he jet en- 
joys the use of his reason, and can 
speak, first enquires of him, where his 
complaint lies — where he experiences 
most pain, and then prescribes the 
means and medicines for him ; accord- 
ingly, first enquire into the state and 
frame of his mind, and learn how he 
is disposed to receive this visitation 
from the hand of God, and then take 
occasion, according to the answers he 
may give, to regulate his addresses, 
admonitions and consolations unto 
him. 

Something of the following nature, 
may not be unsuitable : 

Dear brother (or sister) inasmuch as 
I learned that you were attacked with 
sickness and affliction, I considered it 
a duty incumbent on me, to pay you a 
visit, not only for the purpose of sympa- 
thizing with you, but also, to enjoy 
some conversation with you, and if 
possible to encourage and comfort you 
in the Lord. 

If nature teaches us to sympathize 
with you, in your sickness, faith teach- 
es us no less, to rejoice with you, in the 
prospect that your perpetual happi- 



456 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 

ness is now drawing nigli ; fake, there- 
fore, for granted z 

1. That fl^e time has now arrived, 
that God Almighty requires yon to re- 
hearse unto him, all what you have 
learned during your past life of Chris- 
tianity | and that this visitation is in- 
tended as a school of virtue, to exereise 
you, in bringing forth the fruits of a 
true and living faith. 

Ton know, that the true ehild of God, 
is in duty bound to serve God all the 
days of his life ; but when sueh an one 
is visited with a painful disease, he 
would appear to be ineapable to serve 
God, but no ! For your encourage- 
ment, remember, that hy patient suf- 
fering, pious conversations and sighs, 
and a holy example, you may effectual- 
ly honour and serve your God in sick- 
ness, whilst at the sauie time, your 
friends and acquaintances will be 
much edified ; for this purpose, there- 
fore, attend to the following represen- 
tations and counsels : 

You have learned by Christianity, 
that all temporal afflictions and suf- 
ferings, and consequently sickness, do 
by no means come hy chance, but from 
the paternal hand of God. From that 
God who is just in all his works ; but 
who is also true and faithful, and will 
not suffer us to be tempted above mea- 
sure, but regulates all trials and ***mp- 



INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 45*7 

tations, so as to enable n§ to bear lip 
under theiii. It Is lie who wounds and 
easts down with sickness, by way of 
chastisment, not only impenitent and 
ungodly sinners, but also, liis dearest 
and most beloved children. 

2. Believe, therefore, most firmly, that 
God, in visiting you, at present, with 
suffering, does not do it beeause he is 
your enemy, or seeks thereby to destroy 
you, but rather that he may draw you, 
as his beloved ehild to himself; remem- 
ber that whom Ood loves, he loves unto 
the end, and out of pure and infinite 
love to us, gave his only begotten and 
well beloved Son, to redeem us, and 
sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts, 
to sanetify and eomfort us, and that out 
of this same love towards us, he sends 
siekness to try us, and to humble us 
under his Almighty hand, and to thus 
prepare us, for eternal life with him in 
glory. 

Our heavenly Father employs va« 
rious means, to advanee us towards a 
blessed immortality ; at one time, he 
uses the rod lightly, and does us much 
good from the heavens and the earth, 
as to soul and body, in order to gain 
our hearts and affections to himself, 
and that he grants us also his soul-in- 
spiring word, to make us wise unto sal- 
vation ; but at other times he uses the 
rod with severity, and lays hold of our 



458 INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 

bodies and our souls, by various crosses 
and distressing sicknesses, that he may, 
thereby, chastise us so that we may not 
be condemned with an ungodly world. 
That he changes the unending suffer- 
ings of hell, which his children have 
deserved by their sins, as well as the 
ungodly, into a temporal affliction ; and 
that this what God is now doing unto 
you, and that he may remind you of 
his displeasure against sin, he has sent 
this attack of illness upon you, which, 
although it should grow ever so severe, 
would only be like a falling dew com- 
pared to a tremendous storm. 

3. God takes occasion by means of 
this visitation, to remind you of your 
remaining sins and impurities— that 
you are not better than others — that 
you may thereby be led to humble 
yourself, under the Almighty hand of 
God. 

Acknowledge then your sins and mis- 
eries, and remember how often you 
have violated and transgressed the 
will and commandments of God. And 
as you will find an incalculable num- 
ber of sins and iniquities, in the regis- 
ter of your heart, prostrate yourself as 
a poor, unworthy, guilty and hell de- 
serving sinner, before the throne of 
God, and confess before him with 
heartfelt penitence, all your sins, and 
see well to it, that you feel much more 



INSTRUCTIONS WHEN VISITING SICK. 459 

cancer lied about your sins than about 
your sickness ; acknowledge before 
God witli a broken la ear t and contrite 
spirit , that you have not only merited 
this chastisement, but everlasting death 
and misery; and call upon God most 
fervently, to forgive you all your trans- 
gressions, for the alone sake of the bit- 
ter sufferings and bloody death of Jesus 
Christ ; lay hold on him by faith, and 
sigh unto him in the following, or a 
similar manner. 



Prayer of a sick person for the forgive* 
ness of sins. 

HYMN 65. L. M.— Windham. 
1. 

SHOW pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive, 
Let a repenting rebel live 5 
Are not thy mercies large and free ? 
May not a sinner trust in Thee ? 

2. 
My crimes are great, but don't surpass 
The power and glory of thy grace ; 
Great God, thy nature hath no bounds, 
So let thy pardoning love be found. 

3. 
Oh, wash my soul from every sin, 
And make my guilty conscience clean t 
Here on my heart the burden lies, 
And past offences pain my eyes. 



460 PRATER WHEN VISITING 6ICK. 

4. 
My lips with shame nay sins confess, 
Against tliy law, against tliy grace ; 
Lord, should thy judgments grow se- 
vere, 
I am condemned, but Thou art clear. 

5. 
Should sudden vengeance seize my 

breath, 
I must pronounce Thee just in death : 
And if my soul were sent to hell, 
Thy righteous law approves it well. 

6. 
Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord, 
Whose hope, still hovering round thy 
word, [there 

Would light on some sweet promise 
Some sure support against despair. 

"J know, O JLord, that thy judgments 
are rights and that Thou in faithfulness 
hast afflicted me." — Ps. 119. 75. 

O holy and gracious Ood and Fa- 
ther ! 1, as a poor broken-hearted sin- 
ner, come before Thee and acknow- 
ledge that this sickness has not come 
by chance, hut in thy holy and all- wise 
Providence. Ah! Lord! I know that 
thy hand lays heavy on me, because of 
my sins, but I know also that in the 
midst of deserved wrath. Thou remem- 
berest mercy. 

While I take a retrospective view, 



PRAYER WHEN VISITING SICK, 461 

and recollect how many thousand 
times I have transgressed thy holy law, 
and have thereby excited thy just dis- 
pleasure, and have deserved thy wrath, 
both in time and for eternity ; I humbly 
confess that this affliction is nothing 
compared to what I merited at thy 
hand. Thou mightest in justice, have 
cut me oft* so suddenly as to prevent me 
from enjoying* an opportunity to call, 
even once, upon Thee, for mercy and 
forgiveness. But Thou hast gracious- 
ly preserved me, and exercisest even 
now, the most fatherly regard towards 
me, in visiting me as thy dear child, 
and hast sent this sickness, to lead me 
to unfeigned repentance and amend- 
ment of life % for thy word assures me, 
that the child that Thou lovest, Thou 
chastenest, and that Thou correctest 
every son that Thou receivest. 

O how merciful art Thou unto me, © 
indulgent Father in heaven ! Before 
this I was much diseased, as to my soul, 
without a knowledge of the dreadful 
malady, but now by means of this visi- 
tation, I am led to a knowledge of my 
sins and imperfections, to know how 
awfully I have heeik wounded. O Fa- 
ther of mercies, in tender compassion,, 
and for Jesus 9 sake, turn away thine 
eyes from my sins, and reward me not 
according to my deserts. Lord! thy 
favour is better than life, and with 



462 PRAYER WHEN VISITING SICK. 

Thee we find mercy § Thou hast not 
only placed thy mercy above all thy 
works, and above all my manifold and 
grievous sins, but above the sins of the 
whole world, which are infinite. 

Therefore, wash me, O blessed Jesus, 
with thy blood, and purify me front all 
my impurities, which bear with such 
oppressive weight upon my conscience. 
And as Thou didst die for me, nay, didst 
endure inexpressible anguish for my 
sake, when I was yet thine enemy, O 
be pleased now to be my sympathizing 
Intercessor with thy Father in heaven, 
after that Thou hast now reconciled 
me unto thyself — cheer me with the 
light of thy countenance, as Thou didst 
Blary Magdalene — a deeply fallen Pe- 
ter, and even a penitent thief on the 
cross ; although there may be nothing 
in me which is pleasing in the sight of 
God, yet, he takes pleasure in those, 
who approach and call upon him, in 
thine all-prevailing name, for forgive- 
ness of sins — life and salvation. 

O l<ord of my life ! my times are in thy 
hands ; if it, therefore, be consistent 
with thy holy will, rebuke this disease 
and cause it to vanish; speak but a 
word, and thy servant (or hand-maid) 
shall be restored to health and strength, 
and my soul shall yet praise Thee in the 
land of the living ; but if Thou hast ap- 
pointed this illness as a messenger to an- 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 463 

nonnce to me my departure from time 
to eternity, thy will, O God, be done. 

Behold! O Father and Redeemer, 
here am 1 1 grant me sincere repent- 
ance and true faith in Jesus Christ thy 
Son, that I may fall sweetly asleep in 
Jesus, and that my last sigh may be : 
Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commit 
my spirit — Amen. 

4. In the next place are you appre- 
hensive that this sickness is a forerun- 
ner of death, then remember what a 
mercy God is bestowing upon you, in 
thus sending you this messenger to 
rouse you to set your house in order, by 
weaning your affections and desires 
from the world, and to enable you to 
overcome your natural aversion to pass 
over the swelling of the Jordan of death. 

And behold ! what a suitable and sea- 
sonable means this affliction is, to ena- 
ble you to make a Christian prepara- 
tion for death ; O resign, therefore, to the 
will of God, your heavenly Father, and 
address him in the following manner* 



Prayer for entire submission to the will 
of Crod in sickness. 

HYMN 66. C. M. — Resignation. 

1 NOT from the dust afflictions grow, 
Nor troubles rise by chance ; 
Yet we are born to cares and woes I 
A sad inheritance ! 



464 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 

2 As sparks break out from burning 

coals, 
And still are upwards borne ; 
So grief is rooted in our souls, 
And main grows up to mourn : 

3 Yet with my €*od I leave my cause. 

And trust his promised grace ; 
He rules me by his well-known laws, 
Of love and righteousness. 

4 Mot all the pains that e'er I bore, 

Shall spoil my future peace, 
For death and hell can do no more 
Than what my Father please. 

" It is the Lord, let him do with me as 
seemeth good in his sight." — 1 Sam. 3. IS. 

O eternal Ood and Father! Thou 
hast created and preserved me, and 
Thou hast blessed me all the days of 
my life, and kindly provided for me in 
every situation and circumstance — no- 
thing could befall me without a cause 
— nothing 'without thy will and provi- 
dence, I know also, that Thou chas- 
tisest thy children in mercy, with the 
design of imparting greater blessings 
unto them. O Eiord, here I am, as thy 
child, and humbly cast myself under 
thy rod — do unto me as it seemeth good 
in thy sight — preserve me hy thy grace, 
and use the means according to thy 
good pleasure, to draw me nigh unto 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 465 

thyself. I am not anxious about the 
termination of this sickness, so that I 
may only enjoy thy favour which is 
life, and thy loving kindness which is 
better than life ; remember, therefore, 

Lord, my infirmities, and grant that 

1 may ever rejoice in thy favour* 

I am thy creature — thy servanlr-Hthy 
child — nay, thy possession, therefore, 
will I hope and trust in Thee. As Thou 
hast a treasure of grace in store, for all 
who put their confidence in Thee, I 
will lay my hand upon nay mouth and 
be still, and silently and patiently wait 
until my change comes — Amen. 

5. Nothing is more profitable and sa- 
lutary to the sick, than to open up the 
treasure of glorious promises contained 
in the holy word of God, in his sick- 
ness, and meditate seriously on them, 
and apply them to himself. But should 
his situation be too painful and oppres- 
sive, to afford him an opportunity to 
reflect on these matters, the minister or 
pious friend visiting him, would do 
well to repeat in his hearing, some of 
the shortest and most precious of these 
blessed promises of Jehovah ! viz. 

Reflect often, my dear friend, in your 
indisposition, on the following and 
other gracious promises of CS-od : 

" My refuge is in God, which saveth 
the upright in heart."— Ps. 7. 10. " And 
they that know thy name, will put their 



466 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS, 

trust in Thee 5 for Thou, Lord, hast not 
forsaken thent that seek Thee."— Ps. 9. 
IO. " O how great is thy goodness, 
which Thou hast laid up for them that 
fear Thee 5 which Thou hast wrought 
for them that trust in Thee, before the 
sons of men. 9 '— Ps. 81. 19. "Behold 
the eye of the Lord is upon them that 
fear him 1 upon thent that hope in his 
mercy 5 to deliver their soul from 
death."— Ps. 33. 18. " The Lord is nigh 
unto them that are of a broken heart % 
and saveth such as he of a contrite spi- 
rit."— Ps. 34. 19. "How excellent is 
thy loving kindness, © C£od ! therefore, 
the children of men put their trust un- 
der the shadow of thy wings. They 
shall he abundantly satisfied with the 
fatness of thy house ; and Thou shalt 
make them drink of the rivers of thy 
pleasures/ 9 — Ps. 3©. 7 9 8. " Commit thy 
ways unto the Lord, and he shall bring 
it to pass. Rut the salvation of the 
righteous is of the Lord; he is their 
strength in the time of trouble." — 
Ps. 37. 5. S9. " For he hath said I will 
never leave thee nor forsake thee." — 
Heb. 13. 5. 

And what can prove more soothing 
to a troubled conscience, than the ad- 
dress of our blessed Redeemer to Mary 
Magdalene t " Gro unto my brethren, 
and say unto them, I ascend unto my 
Father, and your Father; and to my 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 467 

God and your God."— John 2©. 17 ; and 
again, what he uttered in his interces- 
sory prayer : "Father, I will that they 
also whom Thou hast given me, be 
with me where I am, that they may be- 
hold my glory, which Thou hast given 
me." — John 17. 24. And O how con- 
soling is it when he says : " If any may 
serve me, let him follow me, and where 
I am, there shall also my servant be." 
— John 12. 26. Rejoice, therefore, my 
dear brother (or sister) that you shall 
be introduced, through death, into the 
immediate presence of your Saviour, 
who ascended up into heaven, to ap- 
pear in the presence of your heavenly 
Father, to present before him all your 
supplications and prayers, and to re- 
ceive your soul in the hour of your 
dissolution, into the kingdom of his 
glory. 

Inasmuch as it is often the case, that 
the most pious children of God, have 
to contend with distressing thoughts 
and anxieties, which harrass their 
minds in sickness, they should be 
promptly and energetically supported, 
by reflecting upon the following, and 
similar passages of the word of God : 

1. Against an abhorrence of sin. 

Are you troubled on account of the 
greatness of your sins ? So let me ad- 
monish you, to meditate seriously on 
the soul-encouraging declaration of 



468 PRATER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS* 

the blessed Redeemer : " God so loved 
tlie world that he gave his only begot- 
ten Son, that whosoever believeth on 
him shall not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life." — John. 31. ©. 

Are yon oppressed with your sins? 
I>o they bear down as a heavy burden 
upon your heart, so that you sometimes 
think it impossible for you to escape 
being crushed by the weight ? Do you 
realize, that you have deserved not o^k^ 
thousand, but many thousand attacks 
of, not only this, but of all kinds of 
sickness, in soul and body, nay, both 
temporal death and the pains of bell 
forever? O then sigh and cry unto God 
often, with pious Ezra: "I ant asham- 
ed and confounded, O my God, to lift 
up mine eyes unto Thee, for my sins 
have grown over mine head, and my 
transgressions are great even unto the 
heavens! J>o your sins appear as the 
greatest abomination before you eyes. 
so as to agonize and distress your soul, 
to such a degree, that you feel deter- 
mined by the grace of God, never 
again, to indulge in the commission of 
any sins ? This we would inform you, 
is a godly sorrow, which worketh a 
repentance not to be repented of, and 
is an evidence that you belong to the 
number of those to whom God solemn- 
ly swears : " As I live, I have no pleas- 
ure in the death of the sinner, but that 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 469 

he turn unto me and live."— £z. 33.11. 
Yon can also exclaim with penitent 
and holy Paul : " This is a true and 
faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- 
ceptation, that Jesus Christ, came into 
the world to save sinners, of whom I 
am chief." — 1 Tim. 1.15. And again : 
m Where sin abounded, there grace 
much more abounded."— Rom. 5. 2©. 

Only flee for refuge, in the exercise of 
true faith, to this sin pardoning Re- 
deemer, and seek through his merits, 
the remission of all your sins, and you 
may rest assured, that your sins, great 
as they are, shall not be able to prevent 
your salvation ; for " his blood cleanses 
from all sin." — 1 John 1. 7. Although 
the burden of your sins be ever so great, 
only take your flight " to the innocent 
Lamb of Ood, who taketh away the 
sins of the world." — 1. 29. Plead be- 
fore him, his soul-encouraging invita- 
tion and promise, " Come unto me, all 
ye that are weary and heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest." — Matt. 11. 
28. He will not deny you, but will ful- 
fil his precious promise t "I will for- 
give their iniquity, and I will remem- 
ber their sin no more." — Jer. 31. 24. 

Place ail your trust and confidence 
in this great Emancipator from sin — 
for there is no sin great enough to ex- 
clude the soul from heaven, but the sin 
of unbelief % remember that all the sins 



470 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 

of the world, were not so great, as 
to prevent God from giving his only 
begotten Son 5 and liow can your 
sins, therefore, prevent Mm granting 
yon a free and full forgiveness of all 
your transgressions? I>oubt and de- 
spair not of the mercy and compassion 
of God, nor of the merits of Jesus 
Christ, and you will thereby most ef- 
fectually honour him. Contemplate 
often the example of penitent sinners 
of Old and New Testament memory, 
who received, on repentance, the free 
remission of all their sins ; as for in- 
stance, our first parents : Noah, Lot, 
Moses, David, Mannassa, Mary Mag- 
dalene and the adulteress, mentioned 
in the gospel, and especially Peter, 
Paul and many others, who had com- 
mitted many great and grievous sins, 
many of whom continued long in their 
sinful career, but when they heartily 
repented, they were graciously for- 
given. And should one have even fore* 
sworn his interest in the Lord Jesus 
Christ, like a Peter, or have shed 
Christians blood like a Paul, yet still 
by a sincere repentance for his sins, he 
may find favour with God, and the 
washing away of all his sins, by the 
blood of Jesus Christ. 

2. Against the weakness of faith. 

Are you troubled on account of the 
weakness of your faith, love, hope, &c. 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 471 

then apply the blessed promises, in 
which God exhibits his sympathy, and 
gracious assistance, to the weak of his 
flock ; as for instance, Is. 4©. 11* "He 
shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he 
shall gather the Lambs with his arms, 
and carry them in his bosom, and gent- 
ly lead those that are with young; 99 and 
also in 42d chapter, and in the 12th 
chapter of Matthew, 2© : " The bruised 
reed he will not break, nor quench the 
smoking flax." 

But are you still distressed because of 
the weakness of your faith ? Let me 
remind you that even this very frame 
of mind, is no unfavourable indica- 
tion, for from it you can conclude that 
you are a child of God, for satan 
never hurls his fiery darts into the 
minds of careless and impenitent sin- 
ners ; for you never hear them com- 
plain of the weakness of their faith, 
but rejoicing in the vain imagination, 
that all is well with them % for their 
conscience is aflected, as it were, with 
a dreadful leprosy, so that they neither 
feel the weight of their sins, nor the 
wrath and displeasure of God. But 
satan is wont to make the most fiery 
onsets upon such as are anxious about 
the word of God, and the salvation of 
their immortal souls. 

Yes, the very fact of your being so 
soon concerned about the weakness of 



472 PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SlfiKNES*. 

your faith, is an unequivocal proof that 
you possess true faith. As long as a 
bashful, sickly and weak child sighs 
and laments, we cannot say that it is 
dead, hut must conclude, that it is yet 
alive, for when dead, its sighs and la- 
mentations cease. 

Rest, therefore, assured that true 
faith has not expired within you, as 
you earnestly desire to believe, and cor- 
dially wish that you could believe ; God 
works in us his will, hence this is evi- 
dently a work of God in you, that you 
would believe; you can, therefore, 
draw this firm inference, that he who 
thus works in you to will, will also 
work in you to do of his own good plea- 
sure. For the Lord hears the secret 
breathings and desires of the poor, and 
his eyes sire continually on them for 
good ; therefore, even as strong as you 
wish your faith to be, rest satisfied that 
God looks upon your heart ; for he does 
not look to any merit even in faith, but 
upon the sincerity of the heart, by 
which true faith lays hold of Jesus 
Christ, as the Author and Finisher of 
the work of our soul's salvation. 

Inasmuch as faith is that Christian 
grace, by which alone the Christian 
can be supported in sickness, especially 
in the hour of temptation, and by 
which he is enabled to bear up under 
his afflictions* to withstand tempta- 



PRAYER FOR ENTIRE SUBMISSION IN SICKNESS. 47$ 

tions and at last depart from this world 
in peace ; it is highly necessary to ad- 
monish the sick, to ground his faith on 
the gracious promises of the gospel. 
Represent to him the duty of medita- 
ting upon, and realizing the great 
mystery of our redemption, in which 
God displays his infinite wisdom, pow- 
er, righteousness and mercy* 

The perfect satisfaction and interces- 
sion of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, 
whereby he conquered and triumphed 
over all his and our enemies, and in 
which is represented unto us, the glori- 
ous covenant of grace, by which we 
are received into the enjoyment of the 
unchangeable love of God, and where* 
by he ratifies and confirms unto us, the 
fulfilment of all his precious promises. 

For this purpose, I consider it highly 
useful and consoling to the sick, par- 
ticularly when the illness continues 
long, and the individual enjoys the use 
of his reason, to explain and apply to 
him, the twelve articles of the Chris- 
tian faith, especially those articles re- 
lating to the forgiveness of sins — the re* 
surrection of the body, and the life 
everlasting, particularly as it is well 
known, that by these means, especially 
by contemplating the subject of eter- 
nal life, which all believers hope for, 
many thousand Christians were com- 
forted and strengthened to bear up 



474 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 

finder the most cruel and inhuman 
persecutions, that Jewish or heathen 
malice could invent and inflict; and 
my dear friend, how can it he other- 
wise than comforting* and strengthen- 
ing to the sick, when he looks up to- 
wards heaven, and contemplates those 
bright mansions, by the exercise of 
faith, prepared for the reception of all 
the followers of the meek and lowly 
Jesus. Ah! it is this, which banishes 
from him the fear of death, scatters all 
his anxieties, and enables him to over- 
come all temptations, and outride all 
the storms, and tribulations, and suf- 
ferings of life ; so as to land him, at 
last, triumphantly on the pep««f«»l 
shores of the heavenly Canaan. 



Prayer in which the sich may apply unto 
himself the twelve articles of the Chris* 
tian faith. 

HYMN 67. C. M,— Arlington. 

1 IN God the Father I believe, 

Who heav'n and earth did frame- 
By his almighty word ; his praise 
And glory to proclaim. 

2 I do believe in Jesus Christ, 

God's only Son, our I^ord, 
Begotten from eternity, 
The everlasting Word. 



OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 475 

3 I in the Holy Ghost believe, 

A person true, and one 5 
In essence, pow'r, eternity, 
With Father and with Son. 

4 An holy catholic church I own, 

The heirs of heav'n design'd % 
By union all to Christ their head, 
And one another join'd. 

5 Redemption thro 9 the blood of Christ; 

I heartily embrace % 
A full forgiveness of my sins, 
The gift of so V- reign grace. 

6 The resurrection of the dead, 

Sincerely I maintain ; 
My soul and body glorified, 
With Christ shall live and reign. 

7 The hopes of everlasting life, 

My fainting soul sustain : 
To this I set my solemn seal, 
And say with truth, Amen ! 

8 To Father, Son and Holy Ghost 

The God whom we adore, 
Be glory as it was, is now, 
And shall be evermore. 

" The just shall live by faiih."—'OLeh. 2. 4. 

O Thon divine and holy Father in 
heaven, from whom comcth every good 
and perfect gift ! I beseech Thee in the 
name of Jesus Christ thine only begot- 



476 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLE! 

ten and well beloved Son my Redeemer, 
to grant unto me the soul-enlivening 
gift of a true and living faith, so that I 
may thereby be enabled to apply unto 
mine own soul all that I have learned 
in thy holy word, and say with my 
whole heart, and my tongue, even unto 
the last moment of my earthly exis- 
tence : 

I believe in Thee, O God, the Father, 
Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, 
and place all my trust and comfort in 
thine infinite mercy and compassion, 
and rest satisfied, that as Thou art my 
God and Father, Thou wilt preserve 
me in trials and temptations, and never 
leave nor forsake me ; as Thou art the 
Almighty lord, Thou canst also grant 
me assistance and protection, and as 
Thou hast furnished me with both 
body and soul, Thou wilt be pleased to 
preserve both, by faith, unto eternal life. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, thine only 
begotten Son, my lord, and feel as- 
sured, that whilst Thou mightest have 
justly plunged me into hell forever, 
Thou hast remembered me in mercy, 
and hast given thine only begotten and 
well beloved Son, to suffer, and bleed, 
and die for me. I acknowledge him 
as mine only Saviour, who heals all the 
wounds of my soul, and saves me from 
all my sins. 

I acknowledge him to be my Christ, 



OP THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 477 

who was anointed of Thee, my heaven- 
ly Father, by the Holy Ghost— that he 
is my prophet and teacher* to instruct 
me in all thing's pertaining- to everlast- 
ing life — that he is my High Priest, to 
reconcile me unto Thee, and to be my 
intercessor in thy presence — and, that 
he is my King to rule over me, to guide 
and preserve me unto life eternal, and 
receive me as my JLord, who with his 
crimson blood, purchased me as his 
own, and will protect me by his Al- 
mighty power, against all which 
might, in any wise, prove detrimental 
to my salvation. 

I believe that for my sake, he took 
human nature upon himself, by the 
operation of the Holy Ghost — that he 
was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and 
born of the Virgin Mary, and thereby 
sanctified my sinful conception, and as 
he became my brother — flesh of my 
flesh, and bone of my bone, and was 
tempted in all things like unto me, sin 
only excepted, that he will also sympa* 
thize with me, and have mercy upon 
me ; and as he is also true God, he will 
likewise protect and preserve me, in my 
last and dying hour, against satan, 
death and hell. I believe that he suf- 
fered under Pontius Pilate, that he was 
crucified, dead and buried; and feel 
assured that he endured all for me, a 
poor miserable sinner, that he might 



478 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 

thereby deliver me from sin — the wrath 
of God — the curse of the law, and eter- 
nal death and damnation, and recon- 
cile me with God, my heavenly Father, 
and bring in an everlasting righteous- 
ness, and purchased for me an eternal 
life, and without his merits, there is no 
salvation or happiness to be hoped for. 
And as I know, that my Saviour after 
his death was buried, I also feel fully 
assured, that he thereby consecrated 
and set apart the grave, as my resting 
place. 

I believe also that he descended into 
hell, that is, that he endured the pains 
of hell, in his body and soul on the 
cross, when he exclaimed: "My God! 
my God ! why hast Thou forsaken 
me?" That he arose again from the 
dead on the third day, for my righte- 
ousness 9 sake, and feel convinced that 
he thereby took both death and hell 
captive, so that they cannot finally in- 
jure me, and that he will also, in due 
time, raise my body out of the grave, 
in like manner, as he arose from the 
dead, having burst asunder the bar- 
riers of the tomb. 

I believe that he ascended up into 
heaven, and that he sits at the right 
hand of God my heavenly Father, not 
only that he may be at the head of his 
church, govern all things, but also that 
he may open up the way for me, to hea- 



I 



OF THE CHRISTIAN FAlTH IN SICKNESS. 479 

ren, which was closed up by sin ; that 
I may have freedom of access to the 
throne of grace, and in due time be 
received, as to soul and body, into the 
kingdom of thy glory ; nay, that he 
now is in the presence of his heavenly 
Father, as my Intercessor and Media- 
tor, so that when I am no longer able 
to speak, or hear, or understand, he 
may plead my cause with God, and 
furnish wings unto my soul to soar 
aloft, after death, into the mansions of 
rest and felicity. 

I believe moreover, that he will come 
again, to judge the quick and the 
dead ; to condemn all who believe not 
on him, but despise his word; but to 
introduce me (although weak in faith,) 
as to soul and body, into the joys of my 
liord. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost, who with 
the Father and the Son, is eternal God, 
and from eternity proceeds from both, 
in whose name, I am also baptized to 
assure me, that he will also be my God, 
my Teacher and my Comforter, that I 
am a child, and consequently an heir 
of God and joint heir with my Saviour 
Jesus Christ, and I enjoy the pleasing 
anticipation, that he will continue to 
impart the testimony to my soul, of my 
interest in the salvation purchased by 
the death of Christ, and thus seal me 
unto the day of my perfect redemption ; 



480 APPLICATION OF THE TWELVE ARTICLES 

that lie assists mine infirmities ; inter- 
cedes for fine, wifli groanings, which 
cannot be uttered, and will carry on 
the good work, which he has begun in 
me, unto mine happy end. 

I believe in a holy catholic or gene- 
ral Christian church, which consists 
in the communion of all true saints 
and believers ; that, as God, from eter- 
nity devised the plan of redemption, 
so he also calls by his holy word and 
Spirit, sinners of the human family in 
time, to the communion of himself, and 
purifies them with the blood of Christ, 
from all their sins ; — that I also am a 
member of this church, and that Jesus 
Christ, as my living Head, will pro- 
tect me against all the power of sin, 
the world, the flesh and the devil, until 
he conducts me into the society of the 
saints, perfect in light and glory ; and 
comfort myself with the precious bless- 
ings and benefits, which Jesus Christ 
has purchased, as the patron of his 
church, and hence : 

I believe most assuredly, not only in 
the forgiveness of sins, but in the forgive- 
ness of my sins; as I acknowledge in 
my heart, that I am a poor miserable 
sinner, and that I have deserved, by the 
sins which I have committed against 
his holy laws, to be eternally excluded 
from the kingdom of God ; I have also 
an tin wavering confidence in God, that 



OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SICKNESS. 481 

he will, in fulfilment of bis precious 
promises, not impute unto me my trans- 
gressions and sins to my condemnation, 
but that he will, for the sake of Jesus' 
sufferings and death, forgive me all my 
sins, and justify me freely by his blood, 
to my eternal salvation. Further, 

I believe in the resurrection of the 
flesh, not only of mankind generally, 
but of my body. As I know, that on 
account of my sins, I must §^o the way 
of all flesh, when my soul and body 
shall be separated from each other, 
and my body be committed to the cold 
grave, as food for corruption ; so do I 
also believe, that as soon as my soul is 
separated from my body, it will be con- 
veyed by angels into Abraham's bosotif , 
to enjoy in the kingdom of God, a full- 
ness of joy and pleasures forevermore, 
at his right hand, and that at the last 
day, my near kinsman and Redeemer, 
Jesus Christ, will, by his power, raise 
up my dead body again, into life, and 
unite it with its companion, the soul, 
and make it conformable to his glori- 
fied body, and introduce me, as to soul 
and body, into his glory. 

And finally s I believe in the life ever- 
lasting, as the end of my faith and hope, 
with which my Saviour Jesus Christ, 
has furnished me, by his return, to his 
and my Father, and, I doubt not, that 
he will introduce my soul and body 

31 



482 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK, 

into this life eternal, to enjoy unending 
felicity, sat tlie last day. 

All tills, I sincerely and unwavering- 
ly Relieve ; in this belief I will live and 
die, inasmuch as it lias pleased €*od, to 
convert nie from my sins ; and £ rest as- 
sured, tl&at £ sliail of liis sovereign 
grace, receive at bis bands tbe end of 
my faitb, tbe salvation of my soul, to 
which I say witb all my beart, Amen ! 
Lord Jesus I Amen I 



Instructions for the sick. 

HYMN 68. C. M.— Rock of Salvation. 
1. 

If life's pleasures cbarmtbee, give them 
not tby beart, [to part i 

I<est tbe gift ensnare tbee, from tby Ood 
His favour seek, bis praises speak, 
Fix bere thy hope's foundation ; 
Serve him, and he will ever be 
The Rock of thy salvation. 

2. 

If distress befall thee, painful though 

it be, [viour flee : 

ILet not grief appal thee ; to thy 8a- 

He ever near, thy prayer will hear, 

And calm thy perturbation : 
The waves of wo shall ne'er overflow 
The Rock of thy salvation. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 483 

3. 
When earth's prospects fail thee, let it 
?*©t distress, [freely Mess % 

Better comforts wait thee; Christ will 
To J esus flee, thy prop he'll he, 

Thy heavenly consolation : 
For griefs helow cannot overthrow 
The Rock of thy salvation. 

4. 
Dangers may approach thee, let them 
not alarm, [tect from harm, 
Christ shall ever watch thee, and pro- 
He near thee stands with mighty 
hands, 
To ward off each temptation : 
To Jesus fly, he's ever nigh, 
The Rock of thy salvation. 

5. 
Let not death alarm thee, shrink not 
from his Mow, [tory bestow, 
For thy Crod shall arm thee, and vic- 

For death shall hring to thee no sting, 

The grave no desolations 
-Tis gain to die, with Jesus nigh, 

The Rock of thy salvation. 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

3. Against the fear of death. 

If yon are agitated with the fear of 
death; remember: 

1. That the day of death is better 
than the day of our birth : especially 



484 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 

as this life is a valley of affliction and 
fears ? a life of labour and sorrow? 
which is at best, a continued, scene of 
trials and sufferings; ~but when we die 
happy we are taken in a moment out 
of misery, and we enjoy the rest pre- 
pared for the people of €*od in heaven. 
May. this life, is at best, hut a sinful life, 
so that it has heeik often remarked, that 
a long life is connected with many sins $ 
but when the Christian dies, he is jus- 
tified from all his sins ; — death, there- 
fore, is to him, salutary, inasmuch as 
he only destroys that, which was born 
of Adam* 

2. But more especially should all fear 
of death vanish from you, inasmuch 
as Jesus Christ, hy his death, hath 
sweetened our death, hy taking* away 
every thing which made death terrible 
to us, by overcoming death, so that you 
can now triumph with the apostle Paul 
and exclaim s "I>eath where is thy stin g ? 
Grave I where is thy victory V 9 Death is 
now a serpent without poison — a bee 
without a sting I For although death 
may cast you down, and with his own 
hand open up your grave, and deposit 
and cover within its cold and silent pre- 
cincts, your lifeless tenement of clay $. 
yet with the other hand, must he, as it 
were, open up the door of heaven, that 
your soul may be bound up in the bun- 
dle of everlasting life, and be forever 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 485 

with the Lord, where no more anxiety, 
suffering' or pain shall ever he able to 
molest you 9 m view of which, you can 
certainly say in tlte near approach of 
death, with holy Paul s "For me to live, 
is Christ, and for me to die, is gain 5 I 
have a desire rather to depart, and to 
be with Christ, which is far better. 15 — 
Philip. 1. 21. 23. 

And when the hour of your departure 
has actually arrived, your pious friends 
will be permitted to say, owk good and 
scriptural grovm&j in relation to your 
death : " © that I may die the death of 
the righteous ! and may my latter end 
be like his !"— Deut. 23. lO'g and ac- 
company your departing spirit with 
such holy aspirations as these s 

O redeemed soul I go, with joy, to 
your Gi-od, who calls you unto himself f 
speed your way to the arms of your 
heavenly Father, who extends his 
hands to your assistance. 

O eternally happy soul! haste to Je- 
sus, your precious Bridegroom ; who 
will now, conduct you to the marriage 
supper, prepared for you in heaven, 
and will impart unto you the precious 
fruits of his perfect obedience, precious 
blood and agonizing death. 

O happy soul ! soar aloft into the 
bright regions of glory, which the 
Holy Ohost hath sealed unto you — to 
the general assembly of the church of 



486 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 

the first born— to the spirits of the just 
made perfect, end tf> the Mediator of 

the new covenant, even Jesus Christ 
your XiOrd and Saviour. 

© Father in heaven I receive now thy 
dear child into thy fond embrace, and 
© Thou divine Saviour! receive his 
spirit. — Amen and Amen. 

And when the curtain of mortality 
has actually dropped, and your ran- 
somed soul has winged its flight to the 
Crod who gave it, we will, with melo- 
dious joy, in the exercise of faith, 
chant your funeral requiem in such 
strains as the following : 

HYMN 69. 8. 7. P. M.— Bartemeus. 

1 HAPPY soul, thy days are ended, 

All thy mourning days below ; 
Go, by angel guards attended, 
To the sight of J" esus go. 

Hallelujah, hallelujah, Amen ? 

2 Waiting to receive thy spirit, 

Xio ! the Saviour stands above ; 
Shows the purchase of his merit, 
Reaches out the crown of love. 
Hallelujah, &c. 

3 Struggle through thy latest passion, 

To the great Redeemer's breast ; 
To his uttermost salvation, 
To his everlasting rest. 
Halleluiah- &c. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SICK. 487 

4 For the joy § lie sets before tbee, 
Sear sa momentary pain ; 
l>ie to li% e a life of glory s 

Suffer, with thy ILorct to reign. 
Hallelujah, &c. 

And when depositing your lifeless 
body beneath the elods of the valley, 
we will sing again, in the language of 
faith : 

H Y M N 70. L. M.—Kingsbridge. 
1. 

UNVEIL thy bosons, faitful tomb, 

Take this new treasure to thy trust, 
And give these sacred relics room, 
To slumber in their native dust. 

a. 

Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear, 
Invade thy bounds t, no mortal woes, 

Can reach the peaceful slumberer here, 
For angels watch his sweet repose. 

3. 

So Jesus slept ; God 9 § dying Son, \_heA 5 

Pass'd through the grave s&mdt blest the 

Rest here, blest saint, till from his throne 

The morning break, and pierce the 

shade. 

4. 
O Glorious day I illustrious morn I 

Attend, O earth I his sovereign word, 
Restore thy trust — a glorious form, 

Clothed in the raiment of his God. 

Lord grant it ! — Amen. 



488 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 

HYMNS, PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS, 

FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS. 



Morning devotions for Christmas. 

HYMN 71. C. M.—Clarendon. 
1. 

WHILE shepherds watch their flocks 
by night, 

All seated on the ground, 
The angel of the Lord came down, 

And glory shone around. 

2. 

" Fear not," said he, for mighty dread 
Had seiz'd their troubled mind ; 

" Olad tidings of great joy I bring 
To you and all mankind. 

3. 

To you, in David's town, this day, 

Is born of David's line, 
The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord ; 

And this shall be the sign. 

4. 

The Heavenly Babe you there shall find, 

To human view display 'd, 
All meanly wr app'd in swathing hands. 

And in a manger laid." 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS, 489 

5. 

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith 
Appeared the shining throng 

Of angels praising God, who thus 
Addressed their joyful song : 

6. 

" All glory be to God on high, 
And to the earth be peaee ; [men 

Good will, henceforth, from heaven to 
Begin, and never cease* 

O God, Thou art worthy of universal 
and everlasting adoration. Thy na- 
ture is incomprehensible ; thy perfec- 
tions are infinite: and thy ways are 
past finding out. Thou art the Creator 
and upholder of all things. And all 
thy works praise Thee, O Lord, and 
thy saints bless Thee. All our lives 
have been full of thy undeserved good- 
ness. 

But we are called this morning, to 
behold the exceeding riches of thy 
grace, in thy kindness towards us, by 
Christ Jesus. Herein is love ; not that 
we loved God, but that he loved us, and 
sent his Son to be a propitiation for 
our sins. 

May we contemplate this matchless 
event, with all those views and affec- 
tions which its importance demands. 
Iflay those who observe the day, observe 
it unto the Lord. May our festivity, be- 



490 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 

coming the occasion, be harmless and 
holy. L<et us not disgrace the season, by 
reviving those works of the devil, which 
the Son of Ood was manifested to de- 
stroy, nor rest satisfied with the mere 
remembrance of his advent, as founded 
in truth, and attended with wonders 5 
but inquire, for what end he was born, 
and for what cause he came into the 
world. And since we are informed, 
that he came to seek and to save that 
which was lost, and suffered, the just 
for the unjust, that he might bring us 
to €*od; may we deem the report not 
only a faithful saying, but worthy of 
all acceptation s and may it be in us as 
a well of water, springing up into ever- 
lasting life. 

IVIay none of us disregard him, from 
ignorance, worldly- mindedness, pre- 
sumption, self-righteousness, or de- 
spondency. As our Prophet, may we 
repair to his feet for instruction. May 
we look to his sacrifice, and find relief 
for our burdened consciences. May we 
acknowledge his authority, and obey 
his commands. In all our approaches 
to Thee, may we make mention of his 
righteousness only, and in his strength, 
go forth into all the duties and trials 
of life. 

May we never feel miserable, even in 
a vale of tears, while we think of the 
consolation of Israel : but rejoice in 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 491 

him, with joy unspeakable and full of 
glory. 

Reflecting upon his grace in becom- 
ing poor, that we through his poverty 
might be rich ; may all selfishness, and 
uncharitableness, be extirpated front 
our hearts ; may we love one another, 
as he has loved us ; and may we delight 
to go about doing good. 

May no coldness, no indifference, ever 
approach our spirits, whenever we are 
engaged in serving a master who has 
all the claims of a benefactor; yea, 
who died for us, and rose again. 

To him may we consecrate our facul- 
ties and possessions % and, on our time 
and our substance, our souls and our 
bodies, may there be inscribed holiness 
to the Lord. May we grieve to hear his 
name blasphemed, and weep to see his 
laws transgressed. 

May his cause lie near our hearts; 
and may we long for the time, when he 
shall be known and adored, from the 
rising of the sun to the going down of 
the same ; when to him shall every knee 
bow, and every tongue confess 5 and 
the glad tidings of great joy shall be 
to all people — Unto you is born a Sa- 
viour, which is Christ the l^ord. 

Through his mediation we address 
Thee 5 and in his words conclude our 
imperfect supplications. Our Father, 



1 



492 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 

Evening devotions for Christmas* 

HYMN 72. 11.1 0.—Star in the East. 
1. 

HAIL the blest morn ! see the great 
Mediator, [seend I 

Down from the regions of glory de- 
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the 
manger, [attend. 

XiO, for his guard, the bright angels 

Brightest and best of the sons of the 
morning, [thine aid ; 

Dawn on our darkness, and lend us 
Star in the east, the horizon adorning, 
Guide where our infant Redeemer 
was laid* 

2. 

Cold on his eradle the dew-drops are 

shining ; [stall ; 

low lies his head with the beast of the 

Angels adore him, in slumber redlining, 

Wise men and shepherds before him 

do fall. 

Brightest and best, &c. 

3. 
Say, shall we yield him, in eostly devo- 
tion 
Odours of Eden, and off 'rings divine, 
Gems from the mountains, and pearls 
from the oeean, [the mine ! 
myrrh from the forest, and gold from 
Brightest and best, &c. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 493 

4. 
Vainly we offer each ample oblation, 

Vainly withhold we his favors secure $ 
Richer by far is the heart's adoration $ 
Dearer to God are the prayers of the 
poor. 

Brightest and best, &c. 

Though thou art exalted above all 
blessing and praise % yet, O God, we 
love to explore thy ways, to admire thy 
works, and to adore thy perfections* 
Thy understanding is infinite, thy pow- 
er is Almighty, thy mercy endureth 
forever. Thy goodness transcends all 
our conceptions, as far as the heavens 
are higher than the earth. 

We call on our souls, and each other, 
this evening, to praise and magnify thy 
holy name. We bless Thee for our crea- 
tion, and for all the supplies which 
have rendered life supportable ; and 
all the indulgences, which have ren- 
dered it comfortable. Mut above all, 
we thank Thee for thine unspeakable 
gift. For Thou hast surpassed all thy 
works, and crowned all thy benefits, 
by remembering us in our low estate, 
and laying help on one that is mighty. 

And we have again heard the intelli- 
gence, that God so loved the world, that 
he gave his only begotten Son, that 
whosoever belie veth on him, should not 
perish, but have everlasting life. Con- 



i 



494 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 

vince us of our need of this dispensa- 
tion of thy mercy and grace § and may 
we acquiesce in it, not with coldness of 
assent, but with gladness of heart. 
May we exclaim with the angels — 
Glory to God in the highest, on earth 
peace and good will towards men § and 
the multitude of disciples, shout — Ho- 
sanna, blessed is he that cometh in the 
name of the Lord. 

Though the world knew him not, 
and his own received him not, and he 
is still despised and rejected of men ; 
may we receive him as all our salva- 
tion, and all our desire. 

May we rejoice to view him, in a na- 
ture, which leads him to call us breth- 
ren ; in which, as our example, he can 
go before us, in the duties of obedience 
and submission % in which, he can sym- 
pathize with us, in all our wo — and in 
which, he has suffered for sins, the just 
for the unjust, that he might bring us 
unto God. 

May we look to him for all we want, 
and live a life of faith upon his fulness. 
In him may we know that we have re- 
demption through his blood ; that we 
have righteousness and strength ; that 
we have all the treasures of wisdom 
and knowledge. 

May we connect with his work for us 
in the flesh, his work in us by the Spirit. 
While we are reconciled by his death. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 495 

may we be saved by his life 5 and re- 
member that his name is Jesus, because 
he saves his people from their sins* 

And as he came not only that we 
might have it more abundantly, may 
our expectations be large, and our de- 
sires importunate ; may he dwell in our 
hearts by faith, that we being rooted 
and grounded in love, may be able to 
comprehend with all saints, what is 
the height, and depth, and breadth, 
and length, and know the love of 
Christ, which passeth knowledge, and 
to be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Once in the end of the world hath he 
appeared, to put away sin by the sacri- 
fice of himself ; and unto them that look 
for him will he appear a second time, 
without sin unto salvation. O, pre- 
pare us for that solemn day. May we 
believe in him as a Saviour, before we 
meet him as a Judge s that when the 
tribes of the earth shall wail because 
of him, we may lift up our heads with 
joy, knowing that our redemption 
dr aweth nigh ; and say with the church 
— ILo I this is our God, we have waited 
for him, he will save us : this is our 
Lord, we waited for him, we will re- 
joice and be glad in his salvation. 

Make thy ministers wise, and zealous, 
and successful, in the dispensation of 
thy word ; and let signs and wonders be 
done, in the name of thy holy child Jesus. 



496 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS. 

We are a sinful people, but Tliou hast 
not dealt with us after our desert § and 
Thou hast not left us without witness t 
Thou hast, in the midst of us, a people 
for thy name ; and we pray, that our be- 
loved country may be a growing* part 
of the empire of the Prince of Peace. 

May the root of Jesse stand for an en- 
sign to the people ; to it may the Gen- 
tiles seek, and let his rest be glorious. 
May he come down like rain upon the 
mown grass, as showers that water the 
earth. In his day may the righteous 
flourish, and abundance of peace, so 
long as the moon endureth. Let all 
nations be blessed in him t all genera- 
tions call him blessed. 

And blessed be his glorious name for- 
ever, and let the whole earth be filled 
with his glory. — Amen. 



Devotions for the last evening of the old 

year. 

HYMN 73. C. ML— Nuffield. 

1 THEE we adore, eternal name ! 

And humbly own to Thee, 
How feeble is our mortal frame % 
What dying worms- are we I 

2 Our wasting lives grow shorter still, 

As months and days increase ; 
And ev'ry beating pulse we tell, 
Leaves the small number less. 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 497 

3 Tlie year rolls round, and steals air ay 

Tbe breath at first it gave ; 
Whatever we do, where'er we be, 
We're travellings to the grave. 

4 Dangers stand thick thro* all the 

ground, 
To push us to the tomb ? 
And fierce diseases wait around, 
To hurry mortals home. 

5 Great God ! on what a slender thread 

Hang everlasting things ! 
Th' eternal state of all the dead 
Upon life's feeble strings* 

6 Infinite joys or endless wo 

Attends on ev'ry breath % 
And yet how unconcerned we go 
Upon the brink of death ! 

7 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense, 

To walk this dang'rous road ; 
And if our souls are hurried hence, 
May they be found with God. 

God, Thou hast been our refuge and 
dwelling place in all generations; be- 
fore the mountains were brought forth, 
or ever Thou hadst formed the earth 
and the world, even from everlasting 
to everlasting, Thou art God. And a 
thousand years in thy sight, are but 
as yesterday when it is past, and as a 
watch in the night. But as for man, 
his days are as grass ; as a flower of the 

33 



49$ DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR* 

field so he flourisheth % for the wind 

passeth over it, and it is- gone, end the 
place thereof knoweth it no more. 

"We appear before Thee, to close in thy 
presence, another of the revolutions 
of otir Meeting existence ; earnestly 
praying, that the season may not pass 
away, without suitable and serious re- 
flections. O, let us not imagine — in 
spite of scripture, and observation, and 
reason, and feeling, that we have many 
of these periods left to notice % but say 
with Job, when a few years are come, 
I shall go the way whence I shall not 
return. It may be only a few months, or 
weeks, or days, — or hours, — for we know 
not at what Montr the Son of man Com- 
eth. But we know that our life is a va- 
pour, that approacheth for a little time, 
and then vanisheth away ; we know 
the frailty of our frame % and the num- 
berless diseases and disasters to which 
we are exposed — so teach us to number 
our days, that we may apply our hearts 
unto wisdom* 

What numbers of our fellow-crea- 
tures, and many of them much more 
likely to have continued than their 
survivors, have, during the past year, 
been carried down to their long home 
— but we have been preserved 5 and are 
living to praise Thee this day. Blessed 
be the €*od of salvation, to whom belong 
the issues from death, that we are yet in 



DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 499 

the regions of hope, that we have yet 
an accepted time, and a day ot salva- 
tion ; and that ©tar opportunity of doing* 
good, as well as of gaining good, are 
still prolonged* Yet are they all dimin- 
ished by another irreparable loss ; and 
the reduced remainder, with every 
trembling uncertainty attached to it, 
calls upon us to say with growing se- 
riousness and zeal, I must work the 
works of him that sent me while it is 
day, the night comet It wherein no man 
can work. 

Thou hast commanded us to remem- 
ber all the way, which Thou hast led 
us in the wilderness. The scene of our 
journeyings has indeed heeva a wilder- 
ness ; but the hand that has conducted 
us is divine; and a thousand privileges, 
not derivable from our condition, have 
been experienced in it. 

Thou hast corrected us, but it is of the 
lord's mercies we are not consumed. 

We have had our afflictions, but how 
few have they heem in number ; how 
short in continuance ; how alleviated 
in degree; how merciful in design; how 
instructive and useful in their results. 

With regard to our severest exercises, 
we are compelled to acknowledge, 
Thou hast not dealt with us after our 
sins, neither hast Thou rewarded us 
according to our iniquities. It is good 
for me that I have been afflicted. 



500 DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 

But O, what a series of bounties and 
blessings, present themselves to our 
minds, when we look back upon the 
year through which we have passed : 
and to what, but to thine unmerited 
goodness in the Son of thy love, are 
we indebted for ail. Health, strength, 
food, raiment, residence, friends, rela- 
tions, comfort, pleasure, hope, useful- 
ness, — all our benefits have dropped 
from thy gracious hand : and there St as 
not been a day, or an hour, or a mo- 
ment, but has published thy kindness 
and thy care. 

Especially would we acknowledge 
thy goodness in continuing to us the 
means of grace. Whatever has been 
denied us, we have had the provisions 
of thy house. The toils and trials of 
the week, have been refreshed and re- 
lieved by the delights of the Sabbath. 
Our eyes have seen our teachers. Our 
ears have heard the joyful sound of the 
gospel % and our hearts have often said, 
liord, it is good for us to be here. 

And O, that every moment of the past 
year could, if called upon — and it will 
be called upon, bear witness to our 
gratitude, love and obedience. O, that 
it was not in its power to convict us, of 
the most unworthy requitals of thy 
goodness. To Thee, O Lord, belong 
glory and honour, but to us shame and 
confusion of face. O, who can under- 






DEVOTIONS FOR THE OLD YEAR. 501 

stand his errors. ©, how many duties 
have we neglected or improperly per- 
formed. Mow little have we redeemed 
our time ; or improved our talents. 
How little have we been alive to thy 
glory, or sought, or even seized, when 
presented, opportunities of serving our 
generation. How un profited have we 
been under the riehest means of reli- 
gious prosperity — and, when for the 
time we ought to be able to teaeh 
others, we have need to be again 
taught ourselves, what are the first 
principles of the oracles of €*od. 

God be merciful to us sinners. Pardon 
our iniquity, for it is great. Cleanse us 
from ail unrighteousness s and work in 
us to will and to do of thy good plea- 
sure. Let us not carry one of our old 
sins with us into the new year — unfor- 
given — unrepented of — unbe wailed — 
unabhorred. With a new portion of 
time, may we have new hearts 5 and 
become new creatures. 

If this year we should die — and in the 
midst of life we are in death, may death 
be our eternal gain s and if our days 
are prolonged, may we walk before 
the Lord in the land of the living, and 
shew forth all thy praise. The number 
of our months is with Thee. In thy 
hand our breath is, and thine are all 
our "ways. Prepare us for all : and be 
"with us in all: and bring us safely 



502 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 

through all, into the rest that remains 
for thy people % for the §ake of our Lord 
and Saviour ; in whose words we eall 
Thee, Our Father, &c. — Amen. 



JfKoming devotions for the New Year. 

HYMN 74. L. M.— Brewer. 
1. 

BLEST be th> Eternal, Infinite ! 
Whose skill conducts this rolling 

sphere % 
Who rules our day, who guards our 

night, 
And guides the swift revolving year ! 

2. 
Our race are falling ev'ry hour, 
While we, distinguished, yet appear ; 
'Tis of thy matchless love and pow'r, 
That we are spar'd another year. 

3. 
O ! for a sweet refreshing time ;— 
Father! thy children wish Thee near: 
Come, and our joys shall he sublime, 
While we begin another year. 

4. 
|J¥ow may thy Spirit's love reveal. 
And make our heav'nly prospects clear s 
Our int- rest in them may we feel, 
While we pass on from year to year. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 503 

5. 
May that good Spirit be our guide. 
During- our stay as pilgrims liere ; 
Nor let us from our God back-slide, 
As we we have done tiie former year.] 

6. 
Strengthen our faitb, increase our love, 
Fill us with godly filial fear ; 
And to thy waiting children prove 
Thy grace thro 7 ev'ry fleeting year. 

7. 
[This truth impress on ev'ry soul, 
That vast eternity is near ; [roll, 

That time's swifts moments onward 
To bring the last — the closing year. 

8. 
When nature in a blase shall die, 
Or death conclude our being here ; 
Then to our Jesus may we fly, 
To spend a never-ending year !] 

Of old hast Thou laid the founda- 
tion of the earth % and the heavens are 
the work of thy hands. They shall pe- 
rish, hv^t Thou shalt endure 5 yea, all 
of them shall was old like a garment 5 
as a vesture shalt Thou change them, 
and they shall be changed % hut Thou 
art the same, and thy years shall have 
no en^k. Through all the successions 
of time, which with us constitute the 
past, the present, and the future, I AM 
is thy name, and this is thy memorial 



504 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 

in all generations* We desire, O God, 
with tlie profoundest reverence to con- 
template tiie eternity of thy nature. 
May our minds be filled with eleva- 
tion and grandeur, at the thought of a 
Being, with whom one day is as a thou- 
sand years, and a thousand years as one 
day ; a Being, who amidst all the revolu- 
tions of empire, and the lapse of worlds, 
feels no variableness or shadow of turn- 
ing. Mow glorious, with immortality 
attached to them, are all thy attributes % 
and how secure are the hopes and hap- 
piness of all those, who know thy name 
and put their trust in Thee* 

May we rejoice, that while men die, 
the Liord liveth; that while all crea- 
tures are found broken reeds and bro- 
ken cisterns, he is the Rock of Ages, 
and the Fountain of living waters* ©, 
that we may turn away our hearts 
from vanity ; and among all the dissat- 
isfactions and uncertainties of the pre- 
sent state, look after an interest in that 
everlasting covenant, which is ordered 
in all things and sure. May we seek 
after a union with thyself, as the 
strength of our heart, and our portion 
forever, and be partakers ourselves of 
the immutability we adore ; for Thou 
hast assured us, that while the world 
passeth away, and the lusts thereof, he 
that doeth the will of God, abideth 
forever. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW TEAR. 505 

We thank Thee, that Thon hast re- 
vealed to us the way in which a fallen, 
and perishing sinner can he united to 
thyself t and that Jesus is the way, the 
truth, and the life. In his name we 
come ; O, receive us graciously ; justify 
us freely from all things; renew us in 
the spirit of our minds ; and Mess us 
with all spiritual blessings in hea- 
venly places in Christ. 

By the lapse of our days, and weeks, 
and years, which we are called upon 
so often to remark, may we be remind- 
ed ho w short our life is, and how soon 
we shall close our eyes on every pros- 
pect below the sun; and, O, suffer us 
not to neglect the claim of eternity, in 
the pursuit of the trifles of time ; but 
knowing how frail we are, may we be 
wise enough to choose the good part 
which shall not be taken away from 
us ; and before we leave the present 
evil world, may we secure an inherit 
tance in another and a better* May 
thoughts of death and eternity so im- 
press our minds, as to put seriousness 
in our prayers, and vigour in our reso- 
lutions; may they loosen us from an 
undue attachment to things seen and 
temporal ; so that we may weep as 
though we wept not; and rejoice as 
if we rejoiced not. 

And remembering that the present 
life, so short, so uncertain— and so 



506 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 

much of which is already vanished, is 
the only opportunity we shall ever 
have for usefulness, may we be con- 
cerned, with holy avarice, to redeem 
the time. Maywe be alive and awake, 
at every call of charity and piety. May 
we feed the hungry, and clothe the 
naked ; may we instruct the ignorant ; 
reclaim the vicious ; forgive the offend- 
ing? diffuse the gospel; and consider 
ojate another, to provoke one another 
unto love and good works, not forsak- 
ing the assembling ourselves together, 
as the manner of some is, but exhort- 
ing one another, and so much the more 
as we see the day approaching. 

As we have entered on a ikew period 
of life, may we faithfully examine our- 
selves, to see what has heen amiss, in 
our former temper and conduct; and 
in thy strength, may we resolve to cor- 
rect it. And may we inquire for the 
future — with a full determination to 
reduce our knowledge to practice, 
liord, what wilt Thou have me to. do? 

Prepare us for all the duties of the 
ensuing year. All the wisdom and 
strength, necessary for the perform- 
ance of them, must come from thyself; 
may we, therefore, live a life of self- 
distrust, of divine dependence, and of 
prayer ; may we ask and receive, that 
our joy may be full ; may we live in the 
spirit and walk in the spirit. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 507 

If we are indulged with prosperity, 
©, let not our prosperity destroy us, or 
injure us. If we are exercised with 
adversity, suffer us not to sink in the 
hour of trouble, or sin against God. 
May we know how to he abased, with- 
out despondence ; and to abound with- 
out pride. If our relative comforts are 
continued to us, may we love them 
without idolatry, and hold them at 
thy disposal ; and if they are recalled 
from us, may we be enabled to say, the 
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away ; and blessed be the name of the 
Lord. 

Fit us for all events. We know not 
what a day may bring forth ; but we 
encourage ourselves in the Lord our 
God, and go forward. Nothing can 
befall us by chance. Thou hast been 
thus far our helper % Thou hast pro- 
mised to be with us in every condition ; 
Thou hast engaged to make all things 
work together for good ; all thy ways 
are mercy and truth. May we, there- 
fore, be careful for nothing, but in 
everything by prayer and supplication 
with thanksgiving, may we make 
known our requests unto God ; and 
may the peace of God that passeth all 
understanding, keep our hearts and 
minds, through Christ Jesus. 

Bless, O, bless the young ; may each 
of them, this day, hear Thee, saying, 



508 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR. 

my son give me thy heart; and, from 
this time, may they cry unto Thee, as 
the guide of their youth. Regard those 
who have reached the years, wherein 
they say, we have no pleasure in them. 
If old in sin, may they be urged to em- 
brace, before it be forever too late, the 
things that belong to their peace 5 and 
if old in grace, uphold them with thy 
free Spirit, and help them to remember, 
that now is their salvation nearer than 
when they believed. 

Bless all the dear connexions attach- 
ed to us by nature, friendship or reli- 
gion. Orace be to them ; and peace be 
multiplied. 

Xiet our country share thy protection 
and smiles* Bless our rulers and ma- 
gistrates. 

Bless all our churches and congre- 
gations. Bless all thy ministers ; may 
thine ordinances in their hand be en- 
livening and refreshing, and thy word 
effectual, to wound and to heal. 

May this be a year remarkable for 
the conversion of souls, and the exten- 
sion of the gospel. Bless all missionary 
societies 5 and let the circling months 
see the banners of the Redeemer car- 
ried forward % till all nations are sub- 
dued to the obedience of faith. Our 
father, &e*— Amen* 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 609 

Jflorning devotions for good Friday.* 

HYMN 75. 8. 8. 7. 8. 8. 7.— Lena. 

1 §EE the Lord of glory dying*, 

See liiiii gasping, hear him crying, 

See his burthen'd bosom heave ; 
Look, ye sinners, ye that hung him, 
Look, how deep your sins have stung 
him, 
Dying sinners, look and live. 

2 See the rocks and mountains shaking, 
Earth unto her centre quaking, 

]\ature 9 s groans awake the dead ; 
Look on Phc&bus, struck with won- 
der, 
While the peals of legal thunder 

Smite the blest Redeemer's head : 

3 Heaven's bright melodious legions, 
Chanting to the tuneful regions, 

Cease to trill the quivering string : 
Songs seraphic all suspended, 
Till the mighty war is ended 

By the all -victorious King : 

4 Hell, and all the powers infernal, 
Vanquish'd by the King eternal, 

When he pour'd the vital flood ! 
By his groans, which shook creation? 
Lo ! we found the proclamation, 

" Peace and pardon through his 
blood." 

* A day set apart by the church to commemorate our Sa- 
viour's sufferings and death. 



510 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 

5 Shout, ye saints, with admiration ; 
Fill with songs the wide creation, 

Since he's risen from the grave : 
Shout with joy and acclamation, 
To the Rock of your salvation, 

Who alone hath power to save. 

6 Bear with patience tribulation, 
Overcoming all temptation, 

'Till the glorious jubilee ; 
Soon he'll come, with bursts of thun- 
der, 
Then shall we adore and wonder, 

Singing on the highest key. 

7 See the blissful scene before us ; 
Join the universal chorus ; 

Bid the flowing numbers rise ! 
Songs immortal sweetly sounding, 
Notes angelic loud rebounding, 

Trembling round the vocal skies* 

O, Thou King eternal, immortal, and 
invisible. Though Thou art past find- 
ing out unto perfection, we rejoice that 
we are not called to worship an un- 
known God. Thou hast not left thyself 
without witness. We bless Thee for 
the revelation Thou hast given us ; and 
that in thy word we can view Thee, as 
the Father of mercies, and the €*od of 
all grace. All thy works and thy ways 
correspond with the name Thou hast 
assumed, and demand and justify our 
confidence in Thee. We praise Thee 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 511 

for tbe displays of thy goodness in the 
productions of nature, and the boun- 
ties of thy providence : but above all, 
for thine inestimable love, in the re- 
demption of the world, by our ILord 
Jesus Christ % for the means of grace, 
and for the hope of glory. 

Herein Thou hast commended thy 
love to us ; in that while we were yet 
sinners, Christ died for us. 

We find ourselves this morning at the 
fool of the cross, where angels are de- 
siring to look into these things — and if 
they who need no repentance, study the 
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that 
should follow, O, how much more 
should we, to whom they are not only 
true, and wonderful, and sublime, but 
all-important, and infinitely interest- 
ing. Help us, © l<ord, to turn aside 
and see this great sight ; and not suffer 
a dying Saviour to address us in vain 
— Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass 
by ? Behold and see, if ever there was. 
sorrow like unto my sorrow. 

Here may we see the value of our 
souls, in the price paid for their deliver- 
ance s and instead of neglecting them, 
or exposing them, for the vanities of 
time and sense s may we regard them, 
according to the estimation in which 
they where holden by him, who gave 
his life a ransom for many. Here, may 
we contemplate the evil of sin, and ab- 



512 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 

lior it here, look upon hint whom we 
have pierced, and mourn for him. Yet 
remembering that he was not only- 
slain by us, but for us : may we rejoice 
in our tears: and by believing enter 
into rest. 

With humble and holy confidence 
may we be enabled to say, surely, he 
hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
sorrows : the chastisement of our peace 
was upon him, and by his stripes we 
are healed. 

May we never degrade his death by 
fearing that it will not be available for 
guilt, so great and aggravated as ours, 
even if we depend upon it, and plead 
it before God : but be fully persuaded, 
that his blood clean seth from all sin : 
and that by the offering up of himself, 
he hath perfected forever them that 
are sanctified. 

Yet O God, never suffer us to sin that 
grace may abound. May we never 
crucify the Saviour afresh and put him 
to an open shame. May he never be 
wounded in the house of his professing 
friends. Rather may we live only and 
wholly for him, who died for us ; and 
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, 
in all things. 

May our old man be crucified with 
him : and the body of sin be destroyed, 
that henceforth we may not serve sin- 
May we be planted together in the like- 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 513 

ness of his death. As he suffered for us, 
leaving us an example, that we should 
tof low his steps ; may we learn of him, 
submission and meekness, and forgive- 
ness of injuries; when reviled, may 
we revile not again 5 when suffering, 
may we threaten not, but commit our- 
selves to him that judgeth righteously. 
i.ihe him in all the afflictions of life, 
may we look to the hand that prepares 
and presents them 5 and say, the cun 
which my Father hath given ine, shall 
I not drink it! 

Whatever be the cross we are requir- 
ed to bear, may we look before us, and 
see him carrying a much heavier ,• car- 
rying it for us t and carrying it with- 
out a murmur — 

Then let our pains be all forgot, 

Our hearts no more repine — 
Our sufferings are not worth a thought, 

When Lord compared with thine. 

Convert and pardon all those, who 
by their lives or doctrine, are the ene- 
mies of the cross of Christ. Have mer- 
cy upon the descendants of those who 
shed his blood: and let his dyinsr 
prayer be answered, Father, forgive 

r "i?* they know Mot what *hey do. 

As Ihou hast made his soul an offer- 
ing for sin, may he see his seed, and 
prolong his days, and the pleasure of 



514 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 

the Lord prosper in his hand* May he 
see of the travail of his soul and be sa- 
tisfied: and hy his knowledge may he 
justify many, having borne their ini- 
quities. 

Yea, having been lifted up from the 
earth, may he draw all men unto him; 
may all kings fall down before him. 
and all nations serve him ; and in all 
the earth whieh he has purchased with 
his blood, may there be one Lord, and 
his name one. 

And when he, who made himself of 
no reputation, took upon him the form 
of a servant, and became obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross, shall 
come in his glory, with all the holy an- 
gels, may we be enabled to say, even so, 
come I<ord Jesus % and unite with those, 
who will be eternally employed in say- 
ing — Unto him that loved us, and wash- 
ed us from our sins in his own blood, 
and hath made us kings and priests 
unto God, and to his Father, be glory 
and dominion forever and ever. — 
Amen. 



Evening devotions for Good Friday. 

HYMN 76. L. M.—Kingsbridge. 

'TIS finished, the Redeemer cries ; 
Then lowly bows his fainting headi 
And soon th' expiring sacrifice 
Sinks to the regions of the dead. 



EYENING DETOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY. 615 

2 'Tis done — the mighty work is done 1 
For men or angels much too great 5 
Which none but God's eternal Son, 
Or would attempt, or could complete* 

3 'Tis done — old things are past away. 
And a new state of things begun ; 

A kingdom which shall ne'er decay* 
But shall outlast the circling sun* 

I A new account of time begins 5 
Now our dear Lord resumes his 
breath, [sins ; 

Charg'd with our sorrows and our 
Our lives to ransom by his death* 

5 Once he was dead, but now he reigns, 
He lives, he lives, he lives again : 
Let's tell our joys in pious strains, 
And spread the glory of thy name* 

O Thou, whose name alone is Jeho- 
vah, the Most High over all the earth 5 
we desire to adore thy perfections, and 
to admire thy works, which are sought 
out of all them that have pleasure 
therein* 

Thou art the only wise Ood* Thy 
power is Almighty. Whither can we 
go from thy presence, or whither can 
we flee from thy Spirit ? Thou art holy 
in all thy ways* And such is thy pu- 
rity, that even the heavens are not 
clean in thy sight* 

How shall we come before the Lord* 



516 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIiUr. 

or bow before the high God ? We hare 
mo offering of our own to bring:* Wo 
man can redeem his brother, or give to 
€*od a ransom for him* The blood of 
bulls and of goats could not take away 
sin. The law itself made nothing per- 
fect — but the bringing in of a better hope 
did* by the which we draw nigh to Ood* 

Yes* blessed be thy name* Thon hast 
shown us what is good ; and we behold 
the Lamb of Crod, who is the propitia- 
tion for our sins* and not tor ours only* 
but also for the sins of the whole world* 

Here a foundation is laid for our 
hope* in connexion with the highest 
glory of all thy perfections; and we 
rejoice to think* that while pleading 
for salvation by the blood of the cross* 
we ask Thee not to deny thyself, or to 
trample on thy holy law ; for here* thy 
law is magnified and made honour* 
able ; here* all thy attributes are deve- 
loped and harmonized i mercy and 
truth meet together ; righteousness and 
peace kiss each other* 

Here, weary and heavy laden, may 
we come for relief, and find rest unto 
our souls* May we take fresh views of 
this adorable sacrifice, under a sense of 
our constant unworthiness and desert; 
and in all our approaches to Thee* 
may we have boldness and access with 
confidence, by the faith of him. 

May we not only rely upon his cross* 



EVENING DEVOTION* FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 517 

but glory in it. Yea, may we join in 
God through our ILord Jesus Christ, 
by whom we have now received the 
atonement. And inay we he able, indi- 
vidually, to say, I ant crucified with 
Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, 
but Christ liveth in me; and the life 
that I now live in the llesh, I live by 
the faith of the Son of God, who loved 
me and gave himself for me. 

We are thankful, that as he atoned 
for our guilt, so he procured for us the 
grace of life, that the blessing of Abra- 
ham might come upon the Gentiles, 
and that he might receive the promise 
of the Spirit through faith. May we 
never separate the pardon and sancti- 
fication which Thou hast joined to- 
gether. May we prove, that he gave 
himself— not only for our sins, but that 
he might deliver us from the present 
evil world $ yea, that he might redeem 
us from all iniquity, and purify unto 
himself a peculiar people, zealous of 
good works. 

And, O, that in every future moment 
of our existence, we may be constrain- 
ed to live, not to ourselves, but to him 
that died for us, and rose again. As 
he so loved us, may we also love one 
another : and never deem any thing 
too great to do, or to suffer, while en- 
deavouring to seek and to save that 
which is lost. 



518 EYENINQ DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAT. 

ZVlay the hearts which are too hard 
to be broken by terror, be melted by 
love, and gained by confidence. May 
none of those who are desirous of re- 
turning to Thee, be discouraged by a 
fear of rejection : but calling to re- 
membrance and belief, the infinite 
proof which Thou hast already exhi- 
bited of thy benevolence, thus judge — 
He that spared not his own Son, but 
delivered him up for us all, how shall 
he not, with him, freely give us all 
things. 

Smile upon our country, let all the 
churches of the faithful, be edified and 
multiplied* Bless all the ministers of 
the everlasting gospel % and may they 
increasingly determine to know no- 
thing, save Jesus Christ, and him cru- 
cified. 

Increase the number of those who 
love his salvation ; and as he gave him- 
self a ransom for all, may it be testi- 
fied in due time, that he may have the 
heathen for his inheritance, and the 
uttermost parts of the earth for his pos- 
session % and reign King of kings, and 
Lord of lords. 

In his words we conclude our devo- 
tions. Our Father, which art, &c— 
Amen. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 519 

Jflorning devotions for Easter Sunday J" 

HYMN 77. L. M.— Litchfield. 

1 OUR Lord is risen from the dead, 
Our Jesus is gone up on high ; 
The pow'rs of hell are captive led, 
Dragged to the portals of the sky. 

2 There his triumphal chariots waits. 
And angels chant ; the solemn lay ; 

" Lift up your heads, ye heav'nly gates, 
Ye everlasting doors, give way I" 

3 Loose all your bars of massy light, 
And wide unfold the radiant scene : 
He claims those mansions as his right, 
Receive the King of glory in. 

4 " Who is the King of glory, who P* 
The Lord that all his foes overcame, 
The world, sin, death, and hell o'er- 

threw, 
And Jesus is the conq'ror's name. 

5 !.o ! his triumphant chariot waits, 
And angels chant the solemn lay, 

" L« ift up your heads, ye hea v'nly gates, 
Ye everlasting doors, give way I" 

6 " Who is the the king of glory, who ?" 
The Lord of boundless pow'r possest; 
The King of saints, and angels too, 
God over all, forever blest. 

* A day set apart by the church to commemorate our 
Saviour's resurrection. 



520 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 

When we consider the heavens the 
work of thy lingers, the moon and the 
stars which Thou hast ordained ; Lord 
what is man, that thou art mindful of 
him, or the son of man that thou visit- 
est him. We are not worthy of an au- 
dience at thy footstool — we are not 
worthy of the least of all thy mercies — 
our sins have even called aloud for 
vengeance. 

But thou hast not executed upon us 
the fierceness of thy anger — because 
Thou art good as well as great ; and 
thy goodness constitutes thy greatness. 
Thou hast turned our very fall into an 
occasion of improving our condition, 
by advancing us to the possession of 
more and greater blessings than we 
originally enjoyed ; so that we not only 
have life, but have it more abundantly. 

For this purpose the Son of thy love 
was manifested ; and in the fulness of 
time, we behold him assuming our na- 
ture, and coming into our world, not 
to be ministered unto, but to minister 
and to give his life a ransom for ma- 
ny. We rejoice to see, in his release 
from the prison of the grave, the evi- 
dence of the all-sufficiency and accepta- 
tion he offered on the cross. O help us 
to consider him as a risen Saviour ; and 
may we feel the power of his resurrec- 
tion, in establishing our faith, enliven- 
ing our hope, and securing our sancti- 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 52| 

fication. May we not only believe his 
resurrection, but partake of it, and 
resemble it, that like as Christ was 
raised from the dead by the glory of the 
Father, even so, we also might walk 
in newness of life %, reckoning* ourselves 
to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive 
unto Ood, through Jesus Christ our 
liord. 

And if risen with Christ, may we give 
evidence of it, and act becoming it, in 
seeking those things that are above. 

May we never leave our spiritual 
and everlasting condition, undecided 
and unknown ; may we never be satis- 
lied, till we are able to say, Blessed be 
the Ood and Father of our I^ord Jesus 
Christ, who, according to his abundant 
mercy, hath begotten us again unto a 
lively hope, by the resurrection of Je- 
sus Christ from the dead ; to an inher- 
itance incorruptible, undeliled and 
that fadeth not away, reserved in hea- 
ven for us. 

In all our difficulties and dangers, 
may we rejoice that he who was dead, 
is alive again, to plead for us, to defend 
us, and to supply us, and has the keys 
of hell and of death. 

In all the afflictions of life, in the de- 
cay of nature, and when looking into 
the horrors of the grave, may we with 
humble and holy confidence be able to 
say, that I know my Redeemer liveth, 



b%% MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 

and shall stand at the latter day npon 
the earth : and though, after my skin, 
wor his destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
shall I see €*od. 

Are we eaiied to mourn over the loss 
of our dear and pious connexions? 
JLet us not sorrow as those who have no 
hope ; but comfort one another with 
these words— That Jesus died and rose 
again, and them that sleep in Jesus 
will God bring with him. 

We glory in the victory which our 
risen Saviour has obtained, not only 
over death and the grave, but the pow- 
ers of darkness ; we rejoice that he has 
set judgment in the earth, and that the 
isles are waiting for his law ; that his 
word is translating into every lan- 
guage, and his servants entering every 
clime. We hail what he has done as a 
pledge of his universal triumph. And 
though we yet see not all things actual- 
ly put under him, we see him, for the 
suffering of death, crowned with glory 
and honour ; and in possession of all 
the resources, necessary to accomplish 
the benevolent designs of his heart; 
and he must reign till all his enemies 
are under his foot-stool. 

Through him, as the once suffering, 
but now exalted Saviour, we address 
Thee, as our Father, &c— Amen. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 523 

Evening devotions for Easter Sunday. 

HYMN 78. L. M.— Park Street. 

1 I MOW thai; my Redeemer lives ; 
Wliat conifort this sweet sentence 

gives ! 
He lives, lie lives, who once was dead, 
He lives my everlasting* head I 

2 He lives triumphant from the grave, 
He lives eternally to save ; 

He lives all glorious in the sky, 
He lives exalted there on high. 

3 He lives to bless me with his love, 
He lives to plead for me above ; 
He lives my hungry soul to feed, 
He lives to help in time of need* 

4 He lives to grant me fresh supply, 
He lives to guide me with his eye ; 
He lives to comfort me when faint, 
He lives to hear my soul's complaint* 

5 He lives to silence all my fears, 

He lives to stoop and wipe my tears ; 
He lives to calm my troubled heart, 
He lives all blessings to impart. 

6 He lives my kind, wise, heav'nly 

friend, 
He lives and loves me to the end ; 
He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing, 
He lives my prophet, priest and king. 



524 EYENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 

7 He lives, and grants me daily breath. 
He lives, and I shall conquer death ; 
He lives my mansion to prepare, 
He lives to bring me safely there. 

8 He lives, all glory to his name ! 
He lives, my Jesus, still the same ; 
© the sweet joy this sentence gives, 
I know that my Redeemer lives ! 

O, Thou ever blessed God, we rejoice 
to think, Thou hast determined to get 
thyself honour, in this apostate part 
of thy empire ; not by the merited in- 
fliction of thy justice, but the displays 
of thy goodness. For Thou hast said, 
mercy shall be built up forever, a 
monument higher than the heavens, 
more durable than eternity, and in- 
scribed to the praise of the glory of thy 
grace, wherein Thou hast made us ac- 
cepted in the beloved. 

We bless Thee, for the appointment 
and revelation of the one only Media- 
tor between Thee and us; hy whose 
death sinners are reconciled, and by 
whose life they are saved. Thou hast 
laid on him the iniquity of us all. 
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and 
carried our sorrows ; the chastisement 
of our peace was upon him, and with 
his stripes we are healed. 

Establish in our minds a full persua- 
sion, that he was delivered for our of- 






EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 525 

fences, and raised again for onr justi- 
fication ; and may we above all things, 
be concerned to know not only that he 
is risen again, but that we are quicken- 
ed together with Christ, and raised up, 
and made to sit with him in heavenly 
places. May we hold communion with 
him, as a living and reigning Saviour $ 
ably to carry on our cause, and save 
unto the uttermost, all that come unto 
God by him. 

Is he not head over all things unto 
his body the church ? Is he not exalted 
to be a Prince and a Saviour ? Has he 
not assured us, that because he lives, 
we shall live also I May we view him 
as the first fruits of them that sleep j 
and believe, that as in Adam all died, 
even so in Christ shall all be made alive* 
May we view his resurrection, not only 
as the pledge, but the model of our own ; 
knowing that he shall not only change 
our vile body, but fashion it like his 
own glorious body, according to the 
working, whereby he is able to subdue 
all things unto himself. 

Thou hast appointed a day in which 
Thou wilt judge the world in righ- 
teousness, by that man whom Thou 
hast ordained : and Thou hast given 
assurance of it unto all men, in that 
Thou hast raised him from the dead. 
O, save us from the wrath of the Lamb. 
May we tremble at the thought of ap- 



5%6 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER SUNDAY. 

pearing before him, if we neglect his 
salvation, despised his precious blood, 
and resisted his Holy Spirit. 

Let not the head stone of the corner, 
be a stone of stumbling and a rock of 
offence ; but as he is chosen of Crod, and 
precious, may he be precious to us. And 
while he is living for us in heaven, may 
we be living for him on earth. May 
we esteem it our highest honour to be 
like him ; and feel it our greatest 
pleasure to serve him. 

And let all those of the house of Is- 
rael know assuredly, that Thou hast 
made the same Jesus whom their fa- 
thers crucified both Lord and Christ. 
May the veil be taken from their heart; 
and may they behold, as in a glass, his 
glory. 

As a nation be merciful unto us, and 
bless us. May this Christian country 
be a country of Christians i and let all 
who name the name of Christ, depart 
from iniquity. 

Bless all those who preach Jesus and 
the resurrection. May they preach 
with the Holy Ghost sent down from 
heaven. May their sound go into all 
the earth; and their words unto the 
end of the world. 

As yet, after all that we have read, 
and heard, and experienced, we know 
but little of the value of the gospel t but 
ire know enough to induce us to be 



MORNING DEVOTIONS PO~R WHITSUNDAY. 527 

thankful for our religious advantages 9 
to sympathize with those who are with- 
out Christ ; and to pray, that in hint 
all the families of the earth may be 
blessed, and all generations call him 
blessed* 

Now the God of peace, that brought 
again from the dead our I^ord Jesus, 
that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
through the blood of the everlasting 
covenant, make us perfect in every 
good work to do his will, working in 
us that which is well pleasing in his 
sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom 
be glory forever and ever. — Amen. 



Morning devotions for Whitsunday.* 

H Y M N 79. L. M.— German M. 
1. 

DEARXord, and shall thy Spirit rest 
In such a wretched heart as mine ? 
'Unworthy dwelling! glorious Guest! 
Favour astonishing, divine ! 

2. 
When sin prevails, and gloomy fear, 
And hope almost expires in night, 
liord, can thy Spirit then be here, 
Great spring of comfort, life and light ? 

* A festival observed in remembrance of the descent 
of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles. — Acts ii. 3. 



538 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAT. 

Sure the blest Comforter is nigh ; 
'Tis he sustains my fainting heart ; 
Else would my hopes forever die, 
And ev'ry cheering ray depart. 

4. 
When some kind promise glads my souI 9 
]>o I not find his healing voice 
The tempest of my fears controul, 
And bid my drooping pow'rs rejoice? 

5. 
Whene'er to call the Saviour mine, 
With ardent wish my heart aspires ; 
Can it be less than pow'r divine, 
Which animates these strong desires ? 

6. 
What less than thine Almighty word 
Can raise my heart from earth and dust; 
And bid me cleave to Thee, myLord, 
My life, my treasure, and my trust ? 

7. 
And when my cheerful hope can say, 
" I love my God, and trust his grace 5" 
liord, is it not thy blissful ray, [peace? 
Which brings this dawn of sacred 

8. 
Let thy kind Spirit in my heart, 
Forever dwell, O God of love, 
And light and heav'nly peace impart, 
Sweet earnest of the joys above* 

O God, Thou hast established thy 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 589 

throne in the heavens, and thy king- 
dom ruleth over all; and all nations 
before Thee are as nothing. Yet, bless- 
ed be thy name, it is only in compari- 
son with thy infinite greatness, that 
they are nothing — not in reference to 
thy condescension, and kindness, and 
care. Even as individuals we have 
been the charge of thy providence ; 
goodness and mercy have always at* 
tended us; and having obtained help 
of Thee, we continue to this day. Thou 
hast been mindful of our souls as well 
as of our bodies; yea, Thou wast pleas- 
ed to form a purpose of grace in our 
favour ; and devise means the most 
glorious, to deliver us from the degra- 
dation, and misery, and perdition of 
sin ; and to make us partakers of the 
hope of eternal life. 

We bless Thee for the dispensation of 
religion, under which it is our exalted 
privilege to live. Mow superior are 
our advantages, to those enjoyed by 
many of thy people in earlier ages. 
The law was given by Moses, but grace 
and truth came by Jesus Christ. Pro- 
phets and righteous men desired to see 
the things which we see, and did not 
see them ; and to hear the things which 
we hear, and did not hear them ; but 
blessed are our eyes for they see, and 
our ears for they hear. Instead of a 
a portion of revelation, we have the 

34 



530 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY 

sacred scriptures complete* Instead of 
the blackness* and darkness, and tern* 
pest of Sinai, we have the milder glo- 
ries, and the small still voice of Zion. 
We hare not received the spirit of bond* 
age again to fear ; but the spirit of 
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Fa» 
ther* 

We praise Thee for the establishment 
of the glorious gospel, which at the first 
began to be spoken by the [Lord, and 
was confirmed unto us hy them that 
heard him; God also bearing them 
witness, with signs and wonders, and 
with divers miracles and gifts of the 
Holy Ghost, according to his own will*- 
We rejoice, that though his supernatu- 
ral agency has ceased, with its neces- 
sity, the ministry of the Spirit continues, 
and that his saving influences are con- 
fined to no period of the church. All 
that have been enlightened and re- 
newed since the fall, have been the sub- 
jects of his operation % and with Thee is 
the residue of the Spirit, 

We rejoice, that as there is no bless- 
ing we so much need, so there is no 
blessing we are so much encouraged 
to implore: for thy truth has said — if 
ye, being evil, know how to give good 
gifts unto your children, how much 
more shall your Father which is in 
heaven, give his Holy Spirit unto them 
that ask him. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAT. 531 

O Thou God of all grace, fulfil the 
word unto thy servants, upon which 
Thou hast caused us to hope. Impart 
unto us thy Holy Spirit, to open the 
eyes of our understanding*, to sanctify 
our affections, to comfort our hearts, to 
glorify Christ, by taking of the things 
of Christ, and showing them to us. 

May we never commit the sin against 
the Holy Ghost. Never quench the 
Spirit. Never resist the Holy Ghost. 
Never grieve the Holy Spirit. Hut may 
we pray in the Holy Ghost ; and wor- 
ship God in the Spirit 5 and be lead by 
the Spirit 1 and be filled with the Spirit. 
May we always view the commands 
in connexion with thy promises 5 our 
duties and trials in connection with 
our resources. Great is our work 5 
great is our warfare 5 and far greater 
than we ever yet felt it to be, is our 
weakness. But our sufficiency is of 
God ; and Thou hast said, I will never 
leave thee, nor forsake thee — not by 
might nor by power, hut by my Spirit 
saith the ILord. 

ILet the goings of our God and our 
King, be seen in the sanctuary; and 
when thy truth is dispensed, let it come 
to those who hear it, not in word only, 
but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, 
and with much assurance. 

And bless, not only the gates of Zion, 
but all the dwelling places of Jacob. 



532 MORNrNG DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 

May every family contain a church 
in the house. Pour thy blessing upon 
our seed, and thy Spirit upon our off- 
spring ; and may the rising race grow 
up, the ornaments, examples and be- 
nefactors of their day and generation. 

To Thee we commend all wis© have 
the rule over us; we implore thy fa- 
vourable regards to the privileged 
country in which we live. Mumble 
us before Thee for our sins, especially 
our neglect and abuse of our religious 
advantages. Withdraw not from us 
the blessings we have forfeited ; and 
inflict not upon us the judgments we 
have deserved. But spare us according 
to the greatness of thy mercy. 

And from our land of vision, may 
the light break forth upon all those 
who are in darkness, and the region 
of the shadow of death. 

Bless all missionary exertions. Let 
the various societies employed in this 
work of faith, and labour of love view 
each other with pleasure, and rejoice 
in each other's success ; and if not in 
immediate and personal co-operation, 
yet in accordance, and tei^^Lei^ey^ and 
design, may they stand fast in one 
spirit, with one mind, striving together 
for the faith of the gospel. Let those 
who remain at home hold forth the 
word of life in their own circles, and 
be concerned to evangelize the districts 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 533 

in which they reside. But O, let there 
not be si deficiency of those, who offer 
themselves to the help of the Lord, 
among the heathen, and say, Lord send 
me* Let it he said, as it was in the be- 
ginning of the gospel — the ILord gave 
the word, great was the company of 
them that published it. 

And be with those that are already 
engaged. We know that Paul can on- 
ly plant, and Apollos water ; but Thou 
canst give the increase. 

Pour thy spirit from on high, and 
the wilderness shall become a fruitful 
field. Our Father, &c.-Amen. 

H Y M N 80. P. M.— Ganges. 
1. 

When the blest day of Pentecost 
Was fully come ; the Holy Ohost 

Descended from above, 
Sent by the Father and the Son : 
The Sender and the Sent are one, 

The Lord of life and love. 

3. 
But were the first disciples blest 
With heav'nly gifts ? And shall the rest 

Be pass'd unheeded by ? 
What ? has the Holy Ohost forgot 
To quicken souls, that Christ has 
bought ; 
And let them lifeless lie? 



534 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 

3. • 
No, Thou Almighty Paraclete I 
Thou shed'st thy heav'nly influ'nce yet; 

Thou visit' st sinners still s 
Thy breath of life, thy quick'ning Hame, 
Thy pow'r, the Godhead, still the same, 

We <s>wm 9 because we feel. 



Evening devotions for Whitsunday. 

HYMN 81. P.M. 6, 7.—Romamt. 

1 FROM Greenland's icy mountains, 

From India's coral strand % 
Where Afric's sunny fountains 

Roll down their golden sand t 
From many an ancient river, 

From many a palmy plain, 
They call us to deliver 

Their land from error's chain. 

2 What though the spicy breezes 

Slow soft o'er Ceylon's isle, 
Though every prospect pleases, 

And only man is vile ; 
In vain with lavish kindness 

The gifts of God are strown 5 
The heathen m his blindness 

Bows down to wood and stone. 

3 Shall we, whose souls are lighted 

With wisdom from on high, 
Shall we to men benighted 
The lamp of life deny ? 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 535 

Salvation! O Salvation! 

The joyful sound proclaim, 
Till earth's remotest nation 

Has learn'd Messiah's name* 

4 Waft, waft, ye winds, his story, 

And you, ye waters, roll 
Till, like a sea of glory, 

It spreads from pole to pole, 
Till o'er our ransom'd nature, 

The Lamb for sinners slain, 
Redeemer, King, Creator, 

In bliss returns to reign. 

O, Thou Author of peace, and lover 
of concord, in knowledge of whom 
standeth our eternal life; and whose 
service is perfect freedom ; cleanse the 
thoughts of otir hearts, hy the inspira- 
tion of thy Holy Spirit; and give us 
grace, whereby we may serve Thee ac- 
ceptably, with reverence, and with 
godly fear. 

We adore Thee as the Creator of all 
things, visible and invisible. Thou art 
the Maker of our earth ; and Thou art 
the Maker of man upon it : and Thou 
madest man upright, in the possession 
of thy image, and the enjoyment of thy 
presence. But man being in honour, 
abode not. Our first father sinned; 
and we have borne his iniquity. We 
have gone astray from the womb ; and 
in numberless instances, have evinced 



536 EYENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 

ourselves to be the degenerate offspring 
of a fallen original — and there is no 
health in ns. As transgressors of thy 
law, we are under the curse 5 and did 
our deliverance depend upon ourselves, 
we must lie down in endless despair. 
We admit, in all its extent, the testi- 
mony of thy word against us ; but ad- 
mire with gratitude the developement 
of a plan of mercy and grace, divinely 
appropriate to all our wants and 
woes, and uniting the highest display 
of thy glory, with the salvation of sin- 
ners. 

Adored be the benevolence that led 
the Son of thy love, before the founda- 
tion of the world, to say, ILo ! I come to 
do thy will, O God 5 thy law is within my 
heart. Blessed be the day when the 
angels saw him who was rich, for our 
sakes becoming poor, that we through 
his poverty might be rich. Blessed be 
the hour, when the Prince of I^ife bore 
our sins in his own body on the tree ; 
and having obtained eternal redemp- 
tion for us, ascended up on high, lead- 
ing captivity captive, and receiving 
gifts for men, even the rebellious also, 
that the I^ord God might dwell among 
them. We rejoice that Christianity 
was originally preached, with the 
Holy Ghost sent down from heaven: 
and in the demonstration of the Spirit, 
was so firmly established, that the 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAV. 537 

gates of hell can never prevail against 
it. We praise Thee, that the son of 
righteousness, in the knowledge of the 
gospel, has risen with healing under 
his wings, upon this distinguished 
land; and said, arise, shine, for thy 
light is come, and the glory of the ILord 
is risen upon thee. And, O, what rea- 
son have we to be thankful, if this gos- 
pel has come to us, not in word only, 
but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, 
and in much assurance. 

For we bless Thee, that though mi- 
racles have ceased, yet thy Spirit is in- 
sured to thy people to the end of the 
world, as the source of light and life, 
and peace and joy; giving testimony 
to the word of thy grace ; and working 
in the souls of men, to will and to do 
of thy good pleasure. 

O, Thou Author of all good, save us, 
we beseech Thee, by the washing of re- 
generation, and the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost. May we be found in the 
number of those, who are born of the 
Spirit ; and give evidence of it, by our 
walking after the Spirit, and our mind- 
ing the things of the Spirit. Instead of 
judging ourselves by dreams, fancies 
and impressions, may we prove what 
is acceptable unto the I^ord; and re- 
member, that the fruit of the Spirit, is 
in all goodness, and righteousness, and 
truth. 



538 EVENING BEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 

We desire, O God, to acknowledge our 
entire dependance on Thee. — Whatever 
time we have engaged in thy service, 
we are still in the body, and feel our 
need of the continuance of those coun- 
sels, supports and consolations, which 
have ever been afforded us* Cast us 
not away from thy presence, and take 
not thy Holy Spirit from us. 

In all the dangers to which we are 
exposed, uphold us by thy free Spirit ; 
and may we not think it enough to be 
preserved from falling ; but may we go 
forward, and be always abounding in 
the work of the I^ord. Strengthen us 
with might by thy Spirit in the inner 
man, for every purpose of the Chris- 
tian life ; and may we be satisfied with 
no attainment, till we are filled with 
all the fulness of God. 

Awaken the careless; convince of 
their error and guilt all those who deny 
or vilify the work of thy grace ; and 
plant in their consciences the convic- 
tion, that if any man have not the Spirit 
of Christ, he is none of his. 

Pour the spirit of grace and of sup- 
plication upon all our congregations. 
Bless the ministry of the gospel, and 
make it the ministration of the Spirit, 
and the power of God to salvation to 
every one that believeth. 

But how can they believe in him of 
whom they have not heard ? And how 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR WHITSUNDAY. 539 

can they hear without a preacher? 
How many are there, who, by the 
"wretchedness of their condition, if not 
by their actual desire, are saying*, 
come over and help us* 

Mast thou not commanded us to 
pray, that thy kingdom may come 1 
Hast not Thou promised % that the 
earth shall be full of the knowledge 
of the Xord, as the waters cover the 
seas ? 

May we encourage our expectation, 
by reviewing what Thou hast already 
accomplished % and remembering, that 
Thou art a €*od of truth, and — the Al- 
mighty* May we, therefore, realize in 
our minds, the delightful period, when 
the heathen shall cast their idols to the 
moles and to the bats ; when Mahome- 
tanism and anti-Christ shall perish; 
when the Jews shall look upon him 
whom they have pierced, and mourn % 
and among protestants, every plant 
which our heavenly Father hath not 
planted, shall be rooted up. 

But why are thy chariot wheels so 
long in coming ? Why does the whole 
creation groan and travail in pain to- 
gether until now ? How many would 
say, Lord, now lettest Thou thy servant 
depart in peace, according to thy 
word — could their eyes see thy salva- 
tion, which Thou hast prepared before 
the face of all people ; a light to lighten 



540 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 

the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people 
Israel. 

While using* the means may we trust 
in thy wisdom, as well as thy faithful- 
ness ; and hear the voice saying, I the 
Liord will hasten it — in his time. 

And to God, the Father, the Word, 
and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed the 
kingdom, power and glory, both now 
and forever. — Amen. 



Evening devotions after a Funeral. 

HYMN 82. C. P. M.— Reflection. 

1 MY days, my weeks, my months, my 
years, 
Fly rapid as the whirling spheres, 

Around the steady pole t 
Time, like the tide its motion keeps, 
And I must launch thro 9 boundless 
deeps, 
Where endless ages roll. 

3 The grave is near the cradle seen, 
How swift the moments pass between ! 

And whisper as they fly- 
Unthinking man, remember this, 
Thou, midst thy sublunary bliss, 

Itlust groan, and gasp, and die ! 

3 Iffy soul attend the solemn call, 

Thine earthly tent must quickly fall. 
And thou must take thy flight, 



EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 541 

Beyond the vast ethereal blue, 
To love and sing as angels do, 
Or sink in endless night. 

4 liong ere the sun has run his round, 
I may be buried under ground. 

And there in silenee rot; 
Alas ! one hour may elose the scene. 
And ere twelve months shall intervene 

My name be quite forgot. 

5 But shall my soul be then extinct, 
And cease to be, or cease to think ? 

It cannot, cannot be : 
Thou ! my immortal, cannot die, 
What wilt thou do, or whither fly, 

When death shall set thee free ? 

6 Will mercy then its arms extend ? 
Will Jesus be thy guardian friend? 

And heaven thy dwelling-place ! 
Or shall insulting fiends appear, 
To drag thee down to black despair, 

Beyond the reach of grace ? 

O Thou Father of mercies, and God 
of all comfort. Thou hast often invited 
us to thyself, by a profession of kind- 
ness; and it manifests our depravity, 
that we think of Thee so little in the 
hour of ease and prosperity. But we 
are now before Thee, in afflict ion and 
distress. Yet we rejoice to know, that 
Thou art a very present, and an all- 
sufficient help in trouble 



542 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 

Thou takest away and who can hiii* 
der Thee, or to say unto Thee, What 
dost Thou ? Thou hast a right to do 
what Thou wilt with thine own. Thou 
art a sovereign, and the reasons of thy 
conduct are often far above, out of our 
sight § but thy work is perfect, thy 
ways are judgment. All thy dispensa- 
tions are wise, and righteous, and kind 
— kind, even when they seem to be se- 
vere. 

May we hear thy voice in thy rod, as 
well as in thy words and gathering 
from the corrections with which we 
are exercised, the peaceable fruit of 
righteousness, be able to acknowledge* 
with all our suffering brethren before 
us, It is good for us that we have been 
afflicted. 

It is not the scripture only, that re- 
minds us of our living in a dying 
world, but all observation, and expe- 
rience. Man is continually going to 
his long home, and the mourners daily 
go about the streets. And we are all 
accomplishing as an hireling, our day, 
and in a little time our neighbours, 
friends and relations, will seek us — and 
we shall not be. Our days are swifter 
than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent 
without hope. Thou hast made our 
days as a hand's breadth, and our age 
is as nothing before Thee s verily, every 
man at his best state is altogether van-, 



EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 54$ 

ity. For our days are not only few, but 
full of evil. Anxieties perplex us ; dan- 
gers alarm us ; infirmities oppress us ; 
disappointments afflict us ; losses im- 
poverish us — we are eonsumed by thine 
anger, and by thy wrath are we trou- 
bled — ©, shut not thy merciful ear from 
our prayers; but spare us, O JLord, 
most holy s © €*od, most mighty : O 
holy and most merciful Saviour z Thou 
most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us 
not, at our last hour, for any bitter 
pains of death, to fall from Thee* 

We acknowledge, O God, with shame 
and sorrow, that the state of degrada- 
tion and mortality, in which we groan, 
was not our original condition. Thou 
madest man upright? but he sought 
out many inventions. Our first father 
sinned, and we have borne his iniqui- 
ty. My one man, sin entered into the 
ivor Id, and death by sin ; and so death 
hath passed upon all men, for that all 
have sinned. 

We bless Thee, that this is not our 
final state. By the discoveries of faith, 
we see new heavens, and a new earth, 
wherein dwelleth righteousness. We 
see the spirits of just men made perfect. 
We see our vile bodies changed, and 
fashioned like the Saviour's own glori- 
ous body ; and man, the sinner, raised 
above the angels wlio never sinned. 
We bless Thee for this purpose of 



544 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 

grace, formed before the world began, 
and accomplished in the fulness of 
time, by the Son of thy love, who hath 
abolished death, and brought life and 
immortality to light by the gospel : and 
who among the ravages of the grave, 
says, I am the resurrection and the 
life ; he that believeth in me, though 
he were dead, yet shall he live; and 
whosoever liveth and believeth in me 
shall never die. 

May it be our immediate and su- 
preme concern to win Christ, and be 
found in him : knowing that there is 
no condemnation to them that are in 
Christ Jesus; and that blessed are the 
dead that die in the ILord. 

So teach us to number our days that 
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom 
— that wisdom which will lead ns to 
prefer the soul to the body, and eterni- 
ty to time; that wisdom which will 
lead us to secure an interest in a better 
world, before we are removed from this. 

O, let not the trifles of time induce us 
to neglect the one thing needful. While 
each of us is compelled to say, I know 
Thou wilt bring me to death, and to 
the house appointed for all living, 
may we be enabled also to say, I know 
whom I have believed, and am per- 
suaded that he is able to keep that 
which I have committed to him* 
against that day. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 545 

And, O, let not the solemnities we 
have this day witnessed, be ever forgot- 
ten : for often, our most serious impres- 
sions have worn off, and our goodness 
has been as the morning eloud and 
early dew, that soon passeth away. 

Thou hast permitted death to invade 
our eirele, and hast turned our dwell- 
ing into a house of mourning. May 
we find that it is better to be in the 
house of mourning, than in the house 
of mirth. By the sadness of the coun- 
tenance, may the heart be made better, 
more serious to reflect, and more soft- 
ened to take impression. 

With the feelings of the creature, may 
we blend the views and the hopes of the 
Christian. May we remember that 
Thou hast bereaved us, not as an ag- 
gressor, but as a proprietor ; resuming 
what was lent us for a season, but ne- 
ver ceased to be thine own. May we, 
therefore, be dumb, and open not our 
mouth, because Thou hast done it ; or 
if we speak may it be to acknowledge 
and pray — I know, © l^ord, that thy 
judgments are right, and that Thou in 
faithfulness hast afflicted me ; let thy 
loving-kindness be for my comfort, ac- 
cording to thy word unto thy servant. 

We bless Thee for thy goodness to the 
deceased, and that we are not called to 
sorrow, as those who have no hope. 
We ascribe whatever excellency was 

33 



540 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER A FUNERAL. 

found in them to thy grace ; and desire 
to be followers of them, as far as they 
also were of Christ* 

Forgive as in whatever instances we 
failed in our duty towards them. I<et 
the prayers they oHered for us while on 
earth he answered ; may w& hold com- 
munion with them in our living Re- 
deemer ; and look forward to a period 
ofrenewed and improved intercourse, 
in which we shall fee forever with each 
other, and forever with the ILord. 

Now unto him that is able to keep us 
from falling, and to present us faultless 
before the presence of his glory, with 
exceeding joy. The only wise Ood our 
Saviour, be glory and majesty, domin- 
ion and power, both now and ever — 
Amen. 

HYMN 83. L. M.— Woodland. 

1 THERE is an hour of peaceful rest, 
To mourning wanderers given ; 

There is a joy for souls distressed, 
A balm for every wounded breast — 
9 Tis found above — in heaven. 

2 There is a soft, a downy bed, 
'Tis fair as breath of even ; 

A couch for weary mortals spread, 
Where they may rest the aching head, 
And find repose — in heaven. 

3 There is a home for weary souls. 
By sin and sorrow driven x 



MORNING DETOTIONS FOR FAST DAT. 547 

When toss'd on life's tempestuous shoals, 
Where storms arise, and oeean rolls, 
And all is drear — but heaven. 

4 There, faith lifts up her cheerful eye, 
To brighter prospects given ; 

And views the tempest passing by, 
The evening shadows quickly fly, 
And all serene — in heaven. 

5 There, fragrant flowers immortal 

bloom, 

And joys supreme are given; 
There joys divine disperse the gloom s — 
Beyond the confines of the tomb, 

Appears the dawn of heaven. 



Jtloming devotions for Fast day** 

HYMN 84. C. M.—Coleshill. 

1 SHE, gracious JLord, before thy 

throne, 
Thy mourning people bend ! 
9 Tis on thy sovereign grace alone, 
Our humble hopes depend. 

2 Tremendous judgments from thy 

hand 
Thy dreadful pow'er display ; 
Yet mercy spares this guilty land, 
And still we live to pray. 

* The two following* prayers are particularly adapted to 
a fast appointed on account some of great calamity, but 
with slight alterations may be used on ordinary fast days. 



54B MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 

3 How changed, alas! For truths divine 

See error, guilt and shame ! 
What impious numbers, bold in sin, 
Disgrace the Christian name. 

4 O! turn us, turn us, mighty Lord, 

By thy resistless grace ; 
Then shall our hearts obey thy word, 
And humbly seek thy face. 

5 Then, should insulting foes invade, 

We shall not sink in fear ; 
Secure of never-failing aid, 
Since God, our God, is near. 

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, 
the whole earth is full of thy glory. O 
for such an impression of thy holiness 
as Isaiah had, when, penetrated with 
a sense of his own sin, and the sin of the 
nation, he exclaimed, Wo is me, for I 
am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell 
among a people of unclean lips. Ban- 
ish all insensibility and indifference 
from our minds, and unite our hearts 
to fear thy name. 

We lament that the world in which 
we live, formed to show forth thy praise, 
was so early defiled by sin f that all flesh 
corrupted its way before God, and 
every imagination of the thoughts of 
the heart, was only evil continually. 
We adore thy awful but righteous dis- 
pleasure, in bringing the flood upon 
the world of the ungodly, and taking 
tfjaem »H awuv. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 549 

Yet, even this tremendous desolation, 
did not hinder the renewed human 
race from rebelling' against Thee ; and 
a long succession of private and pub- 
lie calamities, proclaims the desperate 
depravity of our nature, and the evil 
of sin. Our world is the empire of 
death, a vale of tears ; and tempests, 
and earthquakes, and war, and pesti- 
lence, and famine, scatter the tokens 
of thy wrath, for Thou distributes! 
sorrows in thine anger. 

Thy judgments are now abroad in 
the earth — may the inhabitants there- 
of learn righteousness. They have 
reached and invaded us — may we lay 
them to heart, and be suitably im- 
pressed, with the afflicted circum- 
stances of the country to which we be- 
long. 

We have been equally distinguished 
by privileges and guilt, and it is im- 
possible for us to review the one, with- 
out being reminded by the other. An 
innumerable multitude of natural, 
providential and religious benefits, 
has distinguished our portion. The 
lines have fallen to us in pleasant 
places, yea, we have a goodly heritage. 
At an early period the gospel visited 
our shores, and has continued in the 
midst of us to this hour. We have liv- 
ed under the administration of laws, 
just, mild and beneficent. We hav* 



550 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR FAST DAY. 

enjoyed civil and religions freedom. 
The scriptures have not been with- 
hold en froui us, nor have our teachers 
been removed into a corner — but our 
eyes have seen our teachers ; and sit- 
ting under our own vine and fig-tree, 
none have dared to make us afraid. 
In our dangers, Thou hast appointed 
salvation for walls and bulwarks ; the 
earth has yielded to us her increases 
and €*od, even our €*od, has blessed us. 

It is impossible for us to express or 
conceive the obligations we are under 
to love and serve Thee. 

But we know — and, O help us to feel, 
how unworthily and ungratefully we 
have behaved ourselves, towards our 
adorable benefactor. We are a sinful 
nation, a seed of evil doers ; children 
that are corrupters. The whole head 
is sick, and the whole heart is faint : 
from the crown of the head even to the 
sole of the foot, there is no soundness, 
but wounds, and bruises, and putrify- 
ing sores. © Iiord, righteousness be- 
longeth unto Thee, but unto us confu- 
sion of faces, as at this day, to our ru- 
lers. 

But Thou art the Almighty. Thou 
hast all hearts in thy hand, and all 
events at thy disposal. 

And we have heard, that to the Lord 
our God, belongeth mercies and for- 
giveness, though we have rebelled 



Morning devotions for fast day. 551 

against him. We are proofs ourselves, 
that thy compassions fail not — hence 
though corrected, we are not consum- 
ed ; and though guilty, we are yet al- 
lowed and invited to enter thy pre- 
sence. 

With deep humiliation, not unmin- 
gled with hope, may we approach the 
throne of thy grace, at this time of 
need. O, be merciful unto us, and bless 
us, and cause thy face to shine upon us, 
that we may be saved. For the sake of 
thy dear Son, who died, the just for the 
unjust, by whose name we are called — 
behold a country prostrate at thy foot- 
stool, and hear the voice, which will 
issue to-day, from so many temples and 
closets, saying — Spare the people, © 
IiOrd, and give not thine heritage to 
reproach. 

Remove, if it please Thee, the Mow 
of thy heavy hand, in the calamity 
which we are deploring ; and after 
giving such a deliverance as this, may 
w e no more break thy commandments. 
Or, if Thou hast determined to con- 
tinue the correction ; O, correct us, but 
with judgment, not in thine anger, 
lest Thou bring us to nothing. 

Aid thy people in the private and 
public devotions of the day. Pour out 
a spirit of grace and supplication that 
we may sorrow after a godly sort. May 
thy ministers be faithful and fearless ; 



552 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 

may they cry aloud and spare not ; bfe 
lift up their voice like a trumpet, and 
show the people their transgression, 
and the house of Jacob their sin. 

And let the word that is to he spoken, 
he quick and powerful, sharper than 
any two edged sword, piercing even to 
the dividing asunder of soul and spi- 
rit, and of the joints and marrow, and 
he a discerner of the thoughts and 
intents of the heart. Our Father, &c. 
— Amen. 



Evening devotions after Fast day* 

HYMN 85. L. M.— Surry. 

1 TREMDBLIIVCr before thine awful 

throne, 
O Lord, in dust, my sins I own : 
Justice and Mercy for my life [strife. 
Content! — Oh, smile and heal the 

2 The Saviour smiles ! upon my soul 
New tides of hope tumultuous roll — 
His voice proclaims my pardon found, 
Seraphic transport wings the sound. 

3 Earth has a joy unknown in heaven, 
The new-born joy of sin forgiven ! 
Tears of such pure and deep delight, 
Ye angels ! never dimm'd your sight. 

O God, Thou hast established thy 



EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 55S 

throne in the heavens, and thy king- 
dom rnleth over all. We prostrate our- 
selves before Thee, deeply impressed 
with a sense of the vastness of thy 
agency and dominion. Thon changest 
the times and the seasons : Thou re- 
movest kings, and settest up kings. 
Empires rise and fall, and fade and 
flourish, at thy bidding; and all na- 
tions are in thy hand but as clay in the 
hand of the potter. 

But none of thy dispensations are ar- 
bitrary. Whatever Thou doest, is done, 
because O Father it seemeth good in 
thy sight : and thy judgment is always 
according to truth. Thou art holy in 
all thy ways, and righteous in all thy 
works — And Thou art good even in 
wrath. Thou rememberest mercy ; 
and dost not afflict willingly, nor 
grieve the children of men. 

Therefore it is that we have been this 
day humbling ourselves in thy presence. 

For we acknowledge that we have 
been deeply guilty. Thou hast nourish- 
ed and brought up children, but we 
have rebelled against Thee. The ox 
knoweth his owner, and the ass his 
master's crib ; but we have not known, 
we have not considered* Thou hast 
given us our corn, and wine, and oil, 
and multiplied our silver and gold; 
and we have prepared them for Baal. 
Because of swearing, the land baa 



654 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER FAST DAY. 

mourned. Pride has compassed us 
about as a chain. Discontent has re- 
belled against thine appointments. 
How has the love of money, which is 
the root of all evil, abounded among 
us, How have thy sabbaths been pro- 
faned, and thine ordinances disregard- 
ed. How has the gospel been underva- 
lued, neglected, despised ! 

And all our transgresssions have been 
more aggravated than those of any 
other people, because Thou hast fa- 
voured us unspeakably more than all 
the families of the earth. 

Therefore Thou couldst easily and 
justly have destroyed us : but Thou 
hast not stirred up all thy wrath. In 
all that is come upon us for our evil 
deeds, Thou hast punished us less than 
our iniquities deserve. Yet Thou hast 
testified thy displeasure ; and visited us 
with thy judgments s so that when we 
looked for light and peace, we have 
seen darkness and trouble. 

O let us not be inattentive to the de- 
sign of thy dealings, or insensible under 
thy rebukes. © let it not be said of us, as 
it was of the Jews, The harp and the 
viol, and the tabret and pipe, and wine, 
are in thy feasts, but they regard not 
the work of the Lord, neither consider 
the operation of his hand. Thou hast 
stricken them, but they have not griev- 
ed; Thou hast consumed them, but 



EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER PAST DAY. 555 

they have refused to receive correc- 
tion : they have made their faces hard- 
er than the rock ; they have refused to 
return. 

In the way of thy judgments, © ILord, 
may we wait for Thee. Thou hast said, 
Is any afflicted? ILet him pray. Call 
upon me in the day of trouble, and I 
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify 
me. Fulfill the word unto thy servants, 
upon which Thou hast caused us to 
hope. And O let not the calamity be re- 
moved only, but above all sanctified s let 
it appear that we have heard the rod, 
and Him that appointeth it: and be 
able to say, It is good for us that we 
have been afflicted. 

For which purpose, bless, we beseech 
Thee, the word of thy grace which has 
been spoken ; and grant that the pro- 
fessed humiliation of the day may be 
real — for Thou lookest to the heart. 
And let it also be universal ; may it ex- 
tend, from the highest to the lowest; 
may it pervade the court and the coun- 
try 5 may it enter every church and 
every family — I<et none of us lose sight of 
ourselves in the public calamity. May 
each individual retire and ask, What 
have I done? — and what wilt Thou 
have me to do ? And though other 
lords have had dominion over us, 
henceforth by Thee only may we make 
mention of thy name. 



556 EVENING DEVOTIONS AFTER PAST DAY. 

Regard the king- as supreme, and the 
government under whieh ire live. 
Bless his majesty's confidential advi- 
sers; the hereditary and constituted 
nobility of the realm ; the representa- 
tives of the people ; and the magistracy 
of the land — may all be wise in counsel, 
exemplary in conduct, and faithful to 
their trusts. 

And thus may we be reformed and not 
destroyed. Thus may we be a holy, 
that we may be a happy people, whose 
God is the I^ord. Return, O Liord, how 
long ? and let it repent Thee concern- 
ing thy servants. O satisfy us early with 
thy mercy ; that ire may rejoice and be 
glad all our days. Make us glad ac- 
cording to the days wherein Thou hast 
afflicted us, and the years wherein we 
have seen evil. ILet thy work appear 
unto thy servants, and thy glory unto 
their children. And let the beauty of 
the !Lord our God be upon us % and es- 
tablish Thou the work of our hands 
upon us ; yea the work of our hands 
establish Thou it. 

And to the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Spirit, be rendered the kingdom, 
power? and glory for ever and ever.— 
Amen. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 557 

•Homing devotions for a day of Thanks- 
giving* 

HYMN S6. L. M. — Evening Hymn. 
1. 

ORE AT Ruler of the earth and skies, 
A word of thine Almighty breath 
Can sink the world, or bid it rise : 
Thy smile is life, thy frown is death* 

2. 
When angry nations rush to arms, 
And rage, and noise, and tumult reign ; 
And war resounds its dire alarms, 
And slaughter spreads the hostile plain, 

3. 
Thy Sovereign eye looks calmly down, 
And marks their course, and bounds 

their pow'r : 
Thy word the angry nations own, 
And noise and war are heard no more* 

4. 

Then peace returns with balmy wing, 
Sweet peace ! with her what blessings 

fled! 
Clad plenty laughs, the valleys sing, 
Reviving commerce lifts her head. 

5. 
Thou good, and wise, and Righteous 

Ijord, 

All move subvervient to thy will ; 
And peace and war await thy word, 
And thy sublime decrees J uiil* 



558 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OF THANKSGIVING; 

6. 
To Thee we pay our grateful songs, 
Thy kind protection still implore ; 
O may our hearts, and lives, and 

tongues, 
Confess thy goodness and adore I 

God, Thou art very great, Thou ar» 
clothed with honour and majesty ; 
Thou coverest thyself with light as 
with a garment ; Thou walkest upon 
the wings of the wind. When we re- 
flect oik the glory of thy majesty, we 
are filled with wonder at the vastness 
of thy condescension. For Thou con- 
descendest even to behold things that 
are in heaven. What then is man, 
that Thou art mindful of him, or the 
son of man, that Thou visitest him. 

We rejoice that we are under the 
governance of a Being, who is not only 
Almighty, but perfectly righteous, and 
wise, and good ; that all things, in our 
world, are appointed and arranged 
by thy paternal agency 5 that thy pro- 
vidence numbers the very hairs of our 
head, and that a sparrow falleth not 
to the ground, without our heavenly 
Father. 

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 
We bless Thee for personal mercies. If 
we are called it is by thy -word. If we 
are renewed, it is by thy Spirit. If we 
are justified, it is freely by thy grace, 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 559 

through the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus. It is in Thee we live, 
and move, and have our being. Thy 
goodness has been always near us, to 
hear our complaints, to sooth our sor- 
rows, and to command deliverance for 
us. And numberless are the instances 
of loving-kindness, that now, from ig- 
norance, or inattention, elude our 
notice 5 the discovery of which Trill 
awaken our songs, when we mingle 
with those who dwell in thy house 
above, and are still praising Thee. 

We thank Thee for relative benefits ; 
for blessings on our families, blessings 
on our churches, and blessings on our 
country. "We confess that we are not 
worthy of the least of all thy mercies, 
and of all the truth which Thou hast 
shown unto thy servants. Sins of every 
kind and of every degree, have reign- 
ed among us : have spread through all 
ranks and orders ; and continued, not- 
withstanding all warnings and cor- 
rections $ and if Thou hadst dealt with 
us, after our sins, or rewarded us ac- 
cording to our iniquities, we should 
long ago, have had no name, nor place 
among the nations of the globe. 

But to the JLord our God, belong 
mercies and forgivenesses, though we 
have rebelled against him. All thy 
dispensations towards us have said, 
with a tenderness that ought to pene- 



560 MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 

trate our hearts, how shall I give thee 
up I Our privileges, never properly im- 
proved, and forfeited times without 
number, have been continued. We 
still behold our Sabbaths, and our ears 
still hear the joyful sound. Our con- 
stitution, liberties and laws, have not 
been subverted or impaired. Thou 
hast given us rains, and fruitful sea- 
sons ; Thou hast filled us with the finest 
of the wheat ; our garners have been 
affording all manner of store ; our 
oxen have been strong to labour ; our 
sheep have brought forth thousands 
and ten thousands in our streets. Thou 
hast spread thy wing, and sheltered us 
front the pestilence that walketh in 
darkness, and the destruction that 
wasteth at noon-day. Civil discord 
has not raged in our land ; our shores 
have not heeik invaded; we have not 
heard the confused noise of warriors, 
nor seen garments rolled in blood — it 
has not come nigh us. Our enemies 
have often threatened to swallow us 
up, but the Lord has been on our side, 
and they have not prevailed against 
us. We are this day called upon to 

acknowledge thy goodness in * 

God is the Lord who has showed us 
light; bind the sacrifice with cords, 

* Here let the particular causes for thanksgiving be ex 
pressed. 



MORNING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANESG17ING* 561 

even to the horns of the altar. May 
we never eonvert our blessings into in- 
struments of provocation, by making 
them the means of nourishing pride 
and presumption, wantonness and 
intemperance ; and compel Thee to 
complain — I>o ye thus requite the ILord, 
O foolish people, and unwise? Is not 
he thy Father, that hath bought thee ? 
Hath he not made thee, and establish- 
ed thee ? 

For this purpose meet with us in thy 
house : and may the goings of our God 
and our King be seen in the sanctuary* 
Be with the preacher, and with the 
hearers ; and let the words of his mouth, 
and the meditation of their hearts, be 
acceptable in thy sight, O ILord, our 
strength, and our Redeemer. May 
public instruction awaken the ardour 
of our feelings: may our gratitude not 
only be lively, but practical and per- 
manent. And by all thy mercies, may 
we present our bodies as a living sacri- 
fice, holy and acceptable unto Thee, 
which is our reasonable service. 

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that ex- 
cel in strength, that do his command- 
ments, hearken unto the voice of his 
word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his 
hosts : ye ministers of his that do his 
pleasure. Bless the ILord, all his works, 
in all places of his dominion $ bless the 
Lord, O my soul.— Amen. 

36 



562 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING 

Evening devotions for a day of Thanks* 

giving. 

HYMN 87. L. M.— Ward 
1. 

ALMIGHTY Sovereign of the skies. 
To thee let songs of gladness rise; 
Each grateful heart its tribute brings 
And every voice thy goodness sing. 

2. 
From thee our choicest blessings flow, 
ILife, health, and strength thy hands 

bestow ; 
The daily good thy creatures share 
Springs from thy providential care. 

3. 
The rich profusion nature yields, 
The harvest waving o'er the fields, 
The cheering light, refreshing shower. 
Are gifts from thy exhaustless store. 

4. 
At thy command the vernal bloom 
Re vi ves the world from winter 's gloom ; 
The summer's heat the fruit matures, 
And autumn all her treasures pours* 

5. 
From thee proceed domestic ties, 
Connubial bliss, parental joys; 
On thy support the nations stand 
Obedient to thy high command. 



EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 563 

6. 
ILet every power of heart and tongue 
Unite to swell the grateful song ; 
While age and youth in chorus join. 
And praise the majesty divine. 

O God, Thou art good, and Thou do 
est good. Thou art good to all, and thj 
tender mercies are over all thy works. 

We have thought of thy loving kind- 
ness this day, in the midst of thy tem- 
ple ; and are again surrounding this 
domestic altar to exclaim, O that men 
would praise the ]Lord, for his goodness, 
and for his wonderful works to the 
children of men. 

We lament to think that a world so 
filled with thy bounty, should be so 
alienated from thy service and glory. 
We mourn over the vileness of our in- 
gratitude, and abhor ourselves repent- 
ing in dust and ashes. 

O Thou God of all grace, make us 
more thankful. In order that we may 
be more thankful may we be more 
humble ; impress us with a deep sense 
of our un worthiness, arising from the 
depravity of our nature, and countless 
instances of unimproved advantages, 
omitted duties, and violated commands. 
May we compare our condition with 
our desert, and with the far less indulg- 
ed circumstances of others. May we 
never be inattentive to any of thy inter- 



564 EVENING DEV0TI0N3 FOR A DA* OF THANKSGIVING. 

positions on our behalf; but be wise and 
observe these things, that we may un- 
derstand the loving kindness of the 
liOrd. 

Mow many blessings, temporal and 
spiritual, public and private, hast 
Thou conferred upon us. Thy mercies 
have been new every morning, and 
every moment. 

Our afflictions have been few and al- 
leviated, often short in their continu- 
ance, and always founded in a regard 
to our profit* Thy secret has been upon 
our tabernacle; and we have known 
Thee in thy palaces for a refuge. The 
lines have indeed fallen to us in plea- 
sant places, yea we have a goodly heri- 
tage. Thou hast not dealt so with any 
people. It is a good land which the 
liord our €*od has given us — a land dis- 
tinguished by knowledge ; dignified as 
the abode of civil and religious free- 
dom: endeared by the patriot's zeal, 
and the martyr's blood, and the ashes 
of our forefathers: a land the Lord 
careth for, and upon which his eye has 
heen^ from the beginning even to the 
end of the year. 

Thou hast been a wall of fire round 
about us by thy providential protec- 
tion, and the glory in the midst of us 
by the gospel of our salvation, the ordi- 
nances of religion, and the presence of 
thy Holy Spirit. 



EYE1UNG DEVOTIONS FOR A DAT OP THANKSGIVING. 565 

What shall we render unto the liord 
fbr all his benefits towards us ? Because 
Thou hast been our hel|> 9 therefore un- 
der the shadow of thy wing may we 
rejoice. Because Thou hast heard our 
voice and our supplication, therefore 
may we call upon Thee as long- as we 
live ; and in every future difficulty and 
distress, make Thee our refuge and our 
portion. 

Unable ns to bless Thee at all times ; 
may thy praise continually be in our 
mouth; and may we show forth thy 
praise, not only with our lips, but in 
our lives. 

Being delivered from the peril and 

calamity (of ) with which we have 

been exercised, may we serve Thee 
without fear, in holiness and righteous- 
ness, all the days of our lives. 

We dare not trust our own hearts. 
We have often resembled thy people of 
old, who in the hour of deliverance 
and indulgence sang thy praise, and 
said — All that the I^ord commandeth 
us will we do; but soon forgot his 
works and the wonders which he had 
showed them. Keep these things for 
ever in the imagination of our hearts ; 
and not only draw us, but bind us to 
thyself with the cords of love and the 
bonds of a man. 

And with all our calls to gratitude 
and joy, may we remember that we 



566 EVENING DEVOTIONS FOR A DAY OP THANKSGIVING. 

have also reason for sorrow and hu- 
miliation. O give us that repentance 
which is unto life. Reform as well as 
indulge us; and pardon as well as 
spare. Let not our prosperity destroy 
us, nor our table become a snare. Let 
us not, hj our perverse returns, pro- 
voke Thee to visit us with heavier in- 
flictions ; and turn the rod into a scor- 
pion. May our ways please the Lord, 
that we may hope for a continuance of 
thy favour, and know that all things 
shall work together for our good. 

Do good in thy good pleasure unto 
Zion. Build Thou the walls of J eru- 
salem. And as the churches have rest, 
may they walk in the fear of the Lord, 
and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, 
and be multiplied. 

Let the king live before Thee ; and on 
his head may the crown flourish. 
Bless all the branches of the royal 
house : preside over our national coun- 
cils ; impart wisdom to those who con- 
duct our public affairs: and may all 
the various classes in the community 
pursue that righteousness which exalt- 
eth a nation, and forsake that sin 
which is a reproach to any people. 

Regard the services in which we have 
been engaged with the thousands of 
our Israel : accept the poor and imper- 
fect thanksgivings we have offered; 
and let thy word which has been die- 



PRAYERS AT TABLE. 567 

pensed in aid of the devotion of the day, 
accomplish all the good pleasure of thy 
goodness — through Jesus the JLord, our 
righteousness and strength; and in 
whose words we address Thee as — Our 
Father, &c. Amen. 



PRAYERS AT TABLE. 



BEFORE MEAT. 



Almighty God ! the eyes of all wait 
upon Thee, and Thou givest them 
their meat in due season. Bless, we 
beseech Thee, the provisions of thine 
earthly bounty, which are now before 
us ; and let them nourish and strength- 
en our frail bodies, that we may the 
better serve Thee, through Jesus Christ. 
— Amen. 

Or thus •• 
Bountiful giver of every good and 
perfect gift! Thou art never weary 
of supplying our returning wants — 
Grant, we pray Thee, that the food of 
which we are about to partake, may 
contribute to the comfort and support 
of our bodies — and enable us to engage 
with more zeal in thy service ; which 
we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. — Amen. 



368 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 

Or thuss 

I*et thy blessing, Almighty God, de- 
scend on this portion of thy bounty, 
and on us, thy unworthy servants, 
through Jesus Christ our £<ord. 

Or thuss 

Almighty Crod, we beseech Thee to 
pardon our sins, to bless the refresh- 
ment now before us, to our use, and us 
to thy service, through Jesus Christ. 

Or thuss 

JFather of liights, from whom cometh 
down every good and perfect gift, ena- 
ble us to receive these fruits of thy 
bounty with humility and gratitude, 
and give us grace, that, whether we 
eat or drink, or whatever we do, we 
may do all to thy glory, and be accept- 
ed to the great Redeemer* 
Or thus s 

Bounteous God, we acknowledge 
our dependence on Thee, and our un- 
worthiness of thy benefits. We pray 
Thee to forgive our sins ; to bless us in 
the reception of this food, and enable 
us to improve the strength we may de- 
rive from it to thy glory, for Christ's 
sake* 

Or thuss 

Sanctify, O Lord, we beseech Thee, 
these thy productions to our use, and 
us to thy service, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. — Amen. 



PRAYERS AT TABLE 



AFTER MEAT. 



We thank Thee, O God, our heaven- 
ly Father ! for the innumerable good 
gifts of thy providence. Especially do 
we thank Thee for the rich provision 
Thou hast made for our souls — accept 
our grateful acknowledgments for the 
food we have now received, and ena- 
ble us to prove our sincerity by the 
holiness and obedience of our lives, for 
the sake of our JLord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ* — Amen* 

Or thus: 
What shall we render to Thee, O 
God, for all thy benefits ? Every day of 
our lives we are receiving fresh tokens 
of thy favour* O, let thy goodness lead 
us to repentance* And if we can do no 
more than express our gratitude — help 
us to do that in the sincerity of our 
souls — and thine shall be the glory, 
forever, through Jesus Christ* — Amen* 

Or thus* 
Accept, heavenly Father, our hum- 
ble thanks for this, and for all thy 
blessings, through Jesus Christ* 

Or thus: 
We thank Thee, our heavenly Fa- 
ther, for the rich provision Thou hast 
made for our temporal and eternal 
welfare ; especially for the food we 
have now received* May thv goodness 



570 PRAYERS AT TABLE. 

lead us to repentance, and thy grace 
prepare us for heavenly entertain- 
ments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Or thus •• 

We praise Thee, O Lord, for the pro- 
visions of thy providence and grace, 
and in particular for this renewed to- 
ken of thy favour. May we feel our 
increased obligations to be thine, and 
be fitted at length, to eat bread in thy 
heavenly kingdom, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

Or thus 9 

"We bless Thee, O Lord, for this kind 
refreshment. Be pleased to continue 
thy favours and feed us with the bread 
of life. Supply the wants of the needy, 
and enable us, while we live on thy 
bounty, to live to thy glory, for Christ's 
sake. — Amen. 

Or thus s 

Blessed and praised be thy holy name, 
O Lord, for this and all thy other 
blessings bestowed upon us through 
Jesus Christ our Lord.— Amen. 



PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 571 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS 



FOR 



PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 



•£ morning prayer to be used by a Child 
at Home. 

Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast; pre- 
served me from the perils of the night 
past, who hast refreshed me with sleep, 
and raised me up again to praise thy 
holy name. 

Incline my heart to all that is good ; 
that I may be modest and humble, true 
and just, temperate and diligent, re- 
spectful and obedient to my superiors § 
that I may fear and love Thee above 
all things ; that I may love my neigh- 
bour as myself, and do to every one 
as I would they should do unto me. 

Bless me, I pray Thee, in my learning; 
and help me daily to increase in know- 
ledge, and wisdom, and all virtue. 

I humbly beg thy blessing upon all 
our spiritual pastors and masters, all 
my relations and friends, [particularly 
my father and mother, my brothers 
and sisters, and every one in this house.] 
Grant them whatsoever may be good 
for them in this life, and guide them to 
life everlasting. 



S?2 PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 

I humbly commit myself to Thee, O 
Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ my 
Saviour, and in the words which he 
himself hath taught me : — Our Father, 
&c. 



•In evening prayer to be used by a Child 
at Home. 

Olory to Thee, O lord, who hast pre- 
served me the day past, who hast de- 
fended me from all the evils to which I 
am constantly exposed in this uncer- 
tain life, who hast continued my 
health, who hast bestowed upon sue all 
things necessary for life and godliness* 

I humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly 
Father! to pardon whatsoever Thou 
hast seen amiss in me this day, in my 
thoughts, words or actions. Bless to 
me, I pray Thee, whatsoever good in- 
structions have been given me this 
day ; help me carefully to remember 
them, and duly to improve them ; that 
I may be ever growing in knowledge, 
and wisdom, and goodness* 

I humbly beg thy blessing also upon 
all our spiritual pastors and ministers, 
all my relations and friends, [particu- 
larly my father and mother, my bro- 
thers and sisters, and every one in this 
house*] let it please Thee to guide us 
all in this life present, and to conduct 
us to thy heavenly kingdom* 



PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 5T3 

I humbly commit my soul and body 
totliy care this night; begging thy gra- 
cious protection and blessing, through 
Jesus Christ our only I< ord and Saviour ; 
in whose words I conclude my prayer 
—Our Father, &c. 



•1 prayer for a youth going from home. 

(If with a view to business.) 

O God, Thou appointest the bounds 
of our habitations, and arrangest all 
our individual concerns % and it is thy 
pleasure, not only that we should part 
at death, but often separate in life* 
When absent from each other in body, 
may we be present in spirit ; and may 
our natural affection be strengthened 
and sanctified by inquiry and corres- 
pondence, and divine remembrance at 
the throne of grace. 

Regard the member of our family 
who is now leaving the parental roof 
and the parental wing. In all his 
ways may he acknowledge Thee, and 
be Thou the guide and the guard of 
his youth. Secure him from the paths 
of the destroyer and the evils of the 
world. May uprightness preserve him. 
In the situation he will be called to 
fill, may he be dutiful and obliging, 
and diligent and faithful. May he 
always remember that the eye of God 



574 PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. 

is upon hi in : and be not only amiable 
but pious ; and be in favour with God 
as well as man. 



(If with a view to a school.) 

O thou God of providence and grace, 
we commend to thy care the dear child 
about to leave our abode for a season 
in order to receive needful instruction. 
JLet his (or her) life be precious in thy 
sight. May he redeem his time, and 
acquire the improvement that will fit 
him for usefulness in his day and gen- 
eration. And O let him be made wise 
unto salvation ; and let the beauty of 
the !Lord our God be upon him ; that 
he may be a useful and ornamental 
member in thy church below, and 
hereafter a pillar in thy temple above, 
never more to go out. 



•1 prayer for a servant coming into the 

Family* 

And, O Thou, with whom there is no 
respect of persons, bless the servant 
that has just entered our household. 
May she (or he) be diligent in her sta- 
tion; may she rise early, be attentive 
to punctuality, and neatness, and 
cleanliness ; pleasing well in all things, 
not answering again ; not purloining 



PRAYERS FOR PARTICULAR OCCASIONS. £75 

but showing all good fidelity ; that she 
in ay adorn the doetrine of God our 
Saviour in all things. May she cheer- 
fully conform to the religious order of 
the family, be thankful for its daily 
worship, and improve every spiritual 
privilege. 

And while our servants know and 
observe their duty to us, may we never 
neglect our duty to them, but remem- 
ber that we also have a Master in 
heaven. 



•1 short prayer on going into the seat 
at Church* 

Lord, I am now in thy house : assist, 
I pray Thee, and accept of my services. 
JLet thy Holy Spirit help my infirmities; 
dispose my heart to seriousness, atten- 
tion and devotion ; to the honour of thy 
holy name, and the benefit of my soul, 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. — 
Amen. 



Before leaving the seat* 

Blessed be thy name, O Lord ! for this 
opportunity of attending Thee in thy 
house and service. Make me, I pray 
Thee, a doer of thy word, not a hearer 
only. Accept both us and our services, 
through our only Mediator, Jesus 
Christ our Lord. — Amen. 



576 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 



ADDRESSES 



THE SEASONS 



H Y M N 88. L. M.— Doddridge. 
1. 

THE flow'ry spring at God's com- 
mand, 
Perfumes the air, and paints the land % 
The summer rays with vigour shine, 
To raise the corn, and cheer the vine. 

2. 
His hand in autumn richly pours, 
Through all her coasts, redundant 

stores s 
And winters , soften'd by his care, 
No more the face of horror wear. 

3. 
Seasons and months, and weeks, and 

days, 
Demand successive songs of praise ; 
And be the cheerful homage paid, 
With morning light and ev'ning shade. 

4. 
And O, may each harmonious tongue 
In world s unknown the praise prolong ; 
And in those brighter courts adore, 
Where days and years revolve no more. 



ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 577 



Spring. 



Thou art the fountain of life. In 
Thee we live, move, and have our 
beings and the prerogative of that 
being is, that we are able to contem- 
plate thy perfections, and rise from thy 
works — to thyself. 

Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, and re- 
newest the face of the earth ; and from 
apparent death, all nature starts into 
re-animated vigour and joy. In what 
myriads of productions art Thou dis- 
playing afresh the wonders of thy wis- 
dom, power, and goodness — the whole 
earth is full of thy riches. 

While we partake of the general sym- 
pathy and delight, may we join with 
all thy works to praise Thee. And O 
Thou Crod of all grace, Mess us with 
the renewing of the Holy €*host in 
all the powers of our souls. May old 
things pass away, and all things be- 
come new in Christ. May the beauty of 
the Lord be upon us % and the joy of 
the Lord be our strength. 

May the young remember that they 
are now in the spring of life, and that 
this spring once gone returns no more. 
May they therefore eagerly seize and 
zealously improve the short but all-im- 
portant season, for the cultivation of 
their minds, the formation of their 
habits, the correction of their tempers, 

37 



578 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 

their preparation for future usefulness* 
and their gaining- that good part 

which shall not he taken away from 
them. 



Summer. 



We hail Thee in the varying aspects 
of the year, and bless Thee for all their 
appropriate influences and advan- 
tages. O let us not view them and en- 
joy them as men only, but as Christians 
also ; and ever connect with them the 
blessings of thy grace* 

How wise and useful and necessary 
are these intermingled rains and sun- 
beams ! May Jesus, as the Sun of Right- 
eousness, arise upon us with healing 
under his wings % may he come down 
as rain upon the mown grass, and as 
showers that water the earth. 

When we walk by the cooling brook, 
may we think of that river the streams 
whereof make glad the city of God. 

When we retire from the scorching 
warmth of the day into the inviting 
shade, may we be thankful for a rest 
at noon, a shelter from the heat, the 
shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 

May thy servants behold the moral 
fields, that are already white unto har- 
vest, and be all anxiety to save the mul- 
titudes that are perishing for lack of 
knowledge. 



ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS, 579 

The harvest truly is great, but the la- 
bourers are few ; we therefore pray 
that Thou wilt send forth labourers 
into thy harvest. 

He that gather eth in summer is a 
wise son ; he that sleepeth in harvest is 
a son that eauseth shame. Now is our 
accepted time, now is our day of salva- 
tion. O let us not waste our preeious 
privileges, and in a dying hour ex- 
claim, — The harvest is past, the sum- 
mer is ended, and we are not saved. 



•lutumn* 

How fleeting, as well as varying, are 
the seasons of tlie year ! How insensi- 
bly have the months of spring and 
summer vanished I Nature has no 
sooner attained its maturities, than we 
behold its declension and decay. The 
fields are now shorn of their produce ; 
the beauties of the garden are wither- 
ed 5 the woods are changing their ver- 
dure, and the trees shedding their fo- 
liage — we also never continue in one 
stay. Many of our connexions and 
comforts have already dropped away 
from us % and the remaining are holden 
by a slender tenure — while we ourselves 
do all fade as a leaf— and in a little 
time our places will know us no more. 

Blessed be the €*od and Father of our 
]Lord Jesus Christ, for the announce- 



580 ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 

ment of an inheritance that fadeth not 

away. © for a hope full of immortality 
— for a possession of tliat good part 
which shall not he taken away from 
us! 



© Thou €*od of nature and provi- 
dence ; manifold are thy works, in wis- 
dom hast Thou made them all ; and all 
are full of thy goodness. The welfare 

of thy creatures requires the severity of 
-winter as well as the pleasures of 
spring. "We adore thy hand in all. 
Thou givest snow like wool; Thou 
scatterest the hoar frost like ashes. 
Thou sendest abroad thine ice-like 
morsels : who can stand before thy 
cold? 

liut we bless Thee for a house to shel- 
ter us ; for raiment to cover us, for fuel 
to warm us 5 and for all the accommo- 
dations that render life, even at this 
inclement season, not only tolerable 
but full of comfort. 

Not more than others we deserve, 
Yet God has given us more. 

May we be grateful 5 and may we be 

pitiful. May we reflect on the condi- 
tion of those who are the victims of 
every kind of privation and distress — 
and waste nothing — hoard nothing— 



ADDRESSES FOR THE SEASONS. 581 

but hasten to be the ministers of mercy, 
and the disciples of Him who went 
about doing good. 

O let the rich now deservedly prise 
their wealth, and use it as the instru- 
ment of usefulness. May they be will- 
ing- to communicate, ready to distri- 
bute; and enjoy the blessing of him 
that is ready to perish, and make the 
widow's heart to sing for joy. 



*i time of Thunder and lAgMning. 

With Thee is terrible majesty. Thou 
lookest on the earth, and it melteth; 
Thou touchest thte mountains, and they 
smoke. Thou thunderest in the heav- 
ens, and all nature shudders at thy 
voice. How vain now is the help of 
man I Who can resist thy will I We 
feel ourselves to be nothing, less than 
nothing, and vanity. Our very houses 
are no protection mow! © Thou, to 
whom belong the issues from death, de- 
fend our persons and our dwelling. 
May we always stand in aw© of Thee, 
and sin not. May iff know that this 
awful CS-od is ours, our Father and our 
Friend ; and may we have boldness in 
that day, when the heavens being on 
lire shall be dissolved, and the elements 
melt with fervent heat, and the earth 
also, and all the works that are there- 
in, shall be burnt up. 



582 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

PRAYERS AXD THANKSGIVINGS. 



•fl Prayer for Rain. 

Are there any of tlie vanities of the 
Cientiles that can cause rain ? Or can 

the heavens give showers? Art not 
Thou he, O Lord, our C*od ? Therefore 
will we wait upon Thee, for Thou hast 
made all these thing's 

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest 
it s Thou greatly enriehest it, with the 
river of Gfod, which is full of water. 
Thou makest it soft with showers; 
Thou blessest the springs thereof. Thy 
paths drop fatness. They drop upon 
the pastures of the wilderness ; and 
the little hills rejoice on every side. 

We have been made to feel the worth 
of this Messing, by the want of It s and 
it would he easy for Thee to continue 
the privation, till the heavens over us 
were brass, and the earth under us 
iron ; and the husbandman be asham- 
ed for the wheat, and for the barley, 
because the harvest of the field is perish- 
ed, and because joy is withered away 
from the £ons of men. 

But O deal not with us after our desert. 
Turn not a fruitful land into barren- 
ness. Command thy rain to dscend; 
cause the grass to grow for the cattle, 
and herbs for the service of m an ; th at he 
may bring forth food out of the earth. 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 583 

*1 Thanksgiving for Rain. 

Thou hast never left thyself without 
witness, hi\t hast been continually 
doing good, even to the unthankful 
and unworthy, in giving- them rain 
front heaven, and fruitful seasons, fill- 
ing their hearts with joy and gladness. 
We acknowledge that the heavens over 
us might have been brass, and the earth 
under us iron. We have justly deserv- 
ed the calamity ; and thy power, with- 
out a miracle, could have inflicted it. 
But though Thou hast tried our pa- 
tience, and awakened our fears, Thou 
hast not forgotten to be gracious. We 
praise Thee for sending us the season- 
able and plentiful rain, hy which Thou 
hast refreshed and revived the drop- 
ping fields, so that the earth promises 
to yield her increase. 



m& Prayer for Fair Weather* 

How numberless are our wants and 

dangers ! Our hopes are destroyed, not 
only by tlie deficiency, but the excess of 
our supplies. Stop, we pray Thee, the 
bottles of heaven, which have so long 
been pouring down water upon us; 
and cause thy sun not only to rise, but 
to shine — give us the clear shining after 
rain, that the earth may yield her in- 
crease, in maturity; and opportunity 



684 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

be afforded for the w holesome ingather- 
ing of grass for the cattle, and grain for 
the rase of man : that there may be no 
complaining in our streets; but that 
we may eat in plenty, and be satisfied, 
and praise the Lord. 

And €> let us not forget our souls in 
our mindfulness of the body ; nor ex- 
pend all our concern upon the meat 
that per isheth — ~ht\t be above all things, 
anxious to secure that meat which en- 
dureth unto everlasting life, and which 
the Son of man Trill give % for him hath 
God the Father sealed. 



+1 Thanksgiving for a Good Harvest* 

Again Thou hast crowned the year 
with thy goodness. The grain might 
have perished in the earth, or have 
failed of maturity, for want of the 
showers, and of the sunshine ; but 
Thou wast pleased to bless the spring- 
ing thereof; and we saw first the 
blade, then the ear, and after that the 
full corn in the ear. We hailed the 
valleys standing thick with corn, and 
heard the little hills rejoicing on every 
side. In due time the mower filled his 
hands, and the hinder his bosom ; and 
the appointed weeks of harvest have 
been offered us to gather in the pre- 
cious produce. O that men would 
praise the Lord for his goodness, and 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 685 

for all his wonderful works to the 
children of men ! For he satisfieth the 
longing soul, and filleth the hungry 
soul with goodness. 



In view of Jfourneying* 

© God, Thou hast called thyself the 
Preserver of men, and the length of 
our days. We are therefore encour- 
aged to commit ourselves to thy guar- 
dian care, in the journey before us. 

Many have parted with their friends, 
with the hope of soon embracing each 
other again, l^wt instead of returning 
again to their own dwelling, have been 
conveyed to the house appointed for 
all living. "We pray, with submission 
to thy pleasure, that this may not be our 
experience. Give thine angels charge 
concerning us, to keep us in all our 
ways. Let no evil befall our persons, 
and no plague come nigh our dwell- 
ing. May we know also that all our 
tabernacle is in peace, and visit our 
habitation, and not sin. 

Yet uncertain what a day may bring 
forth, may we be prepared for every 
event of thy providence ; and where- 
ever, in dying, we go from, may it be 
our happiness to know where we are 
going to — and rejoice in the prospect, 
that when all our wanderings and 



586 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

partings are ended, we shall unite in 
our heavenly Father's house, and be 
forever with the Lord. 



•1 Thanksgiving for a safe return from a 
Journey, 

As the keeper of Israel Thou hast 
been with us, not only in the house, but 
by the way. We might have heeu. in- 
jured hy wicked and unreasonable 
men. We might have been left groan- 
ing under the pain of bruised limbs or 
fractured bones. Our lives might have 
been spilt like water on the ground, 
which cannot be gathered up again ; 
and the first tidings that reached our 
friends might have plunged them into 
anguish. 

But all our bones can say, Who is a 
God like unto Thee ? Thy secret too in 
our absence has heen upon our taber- 
nacle, zm& secured it from all evil. O 
that it muy be the tabernacle of the 
righteous % and be ever filled, not on- 
ly with the voice of rejoicing but of 
praise. 

And be with us in all the future jour- 
ney of life. Guide us by thy counsel. 
Uphold us hy thy power 5 and supply 
all our wants, till we come to our Fa- 
ther's house in peace. 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 587 

•& Thanksgiving for the return of a 
Friend from Sea. 

What shall be dome unto Thee, O 
thou Preserver of men? We offer to 
Thee the sacrifice of praise, the fruit 
of our lips, giving thanks to thy name, 
for thy goodness towards our friend 
and thy servant, whom Thou hast de- 
livered from the dangers of the pitiless 
deep. Thou wast with him when trou- 
ble was nigh ; and at thy command 
were the issues from death. Others 
have found a watery grave, till the sea 
shall give up her dead ; but he has re- 
turned alive and in comfort. Many 
are weeping over the loss of those for 
whom they long anxiously waited; 
but we have embraced the desire of our 
eyes ; and in the multitude of thy ten- 
der mercies we pay Thee the vows of 
renewed intercourse. 



For a new Jftarried party • 

JBless those who have entered into a 
state honourable in all. May they re- 
member the vows they have left at the 
altar ; and in discharge of their per- 
sonal and relative duty, may they 
make thy word their rule, that mercy 
and peace may be upon them. May 
the husband love his wife even as him* 



588 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

self; and may the wife see that she re- 
veres her husband ; and both walk to- 
gether, as heirs of the grace of life, 
that their prayers be not hindered. 

Preserve them from the evils which 
destroy or diminish the welfare and 
comfort of the condition in which 
Thou hast placed them ; and may they 
enjoy all the happiness derivable front 
prudence, temper, accommodation, 
real godliness, and the divine bless- 
ing. 

May they expect to discern infirmities 
in one another ; but may they be al- 
ways most deeply conscious of their 
own. And let them not look for unat- 
tainable, by looking for unmingled 
bliss on earth ; but remember that this 
is not our rest 5 and be prepared for 
difficulties, trials, changes, and final 
separation. 



<•£ Prayer for a woman approaching the 
time of travail* 

Regard thine handmaid, who is 
looking forward to an important 
hour. Be not Thou far from her 
when trouble is near. May her mind 
be kept in perfect peace, being stayed 
upon the €*od of her salvation. Bring 
to the birth, and give strength to bring 
forth, Soften the pains of labour, as 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 589 * 

well as command deliverance $ and in 
due time 9 in ay she remember no more 
lier anguish, for joy that a child is 
born into the world. And may the 
root and the branch, abide under the 
shade of the Almighty. 



♦1 Thanksgiving for Safe Delivery in 
Child Birth. 

We bless Thee, on behalf of thine 
handmaid, who is now saying, I love 
the Lord, because he hath heard my 
voice, and my supplication. Thou 
hast been with her in the hour of pain 
and peril, and made her the joyful 
another of a living and well formed in- 
fant. Complete thy goodness by the re- 
newal of her strength, and her ability 
to appear again in all the duties of her 
important station. 

Let the impressions produced by re- 
cent mercies, be rendered as durable 
as they are lively : may she remember, 
and pay Thee the vows, which her soul 
made when in trouble. 

May the life spared, and the life given, 
be dear in thy sight, and devoted to thy 
glory ; and may every addition made 
to the world of creatures, be found an 
accession to the church of the living 
God. 



590 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

For one under Sickness. 

Think, O Lord, for good upon the 
afflicted; especially him (or her) whom 
we now commend to thy companion- 
ate regard. Comfort him upon the 
bed of languishing, and make all his 
bed in hi§ sickness. 

If the sickness be unto death, prepare 
him for the solemn event, and be "with 
him in it. But we are allowed to im- 
plore deliverance, with submission; 
nothing is too hard for the JLord ; Thou 
canst heal as well as wound — we there- 
fore pray, if it be thy good pleasure, 
that Thou wilt put efficacy into the 
means ; rebuke the disorder ; renew the 
strength ; and prolong the days of thy 
servant. 

Above all let the dispensation be sanc- 
tified to the sufferer and his con- 
nexions; and may all have reason to 
acknowledge, in the review, it is good 
for me that I have been afflicted. 



For recovery from Sickness* 

All our times are in thy hand. All 
diseases come at thy call, and go at thy 
bidding. Thou redeemest our life from 
destruction, and crownest us with lov- 
ing-kindness and tender mercies. We 
bless Thee, that Thou hast heard our 
prayer, and commanded deliverance 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 591 

for our friend and thy servant, who has 
been under thine afflicting hand. He 
(or she) was brought low, but Thou hast 
helped hint : Thou hast chastened him 
sore, but not delivered him over unto 
death. May he not only live, but de- 
clare the works of the ILord. 

As Thou hast delivered his eyes from 
tears, his feet from falling*, and his soul 
from death, may he daily inquire. 
What shall I render unto the ILord for 
all his benefits towards me ? and re- 
solve to offer unto Thee the sacrifices 
of thanksgiving and to call upon the 
name of the Lord. 

And may we ever remember, that m 
recovery is only a reprieve; that the 
sentence which dooms us to the dust is 
only suspended % and, that at most, 
when a few years are come, we shall 
go the way whence we shall not re- 
turn. May we, therefore, secure the 
one thing needful ; and live with eter- 
nity in view. 



•0L Prayer for a Birth Day. 

Blessed be €*od for my creation and 
birth : for giving me a being from hon- 
est parents fearing Crod, and in a Chris- 
tian and IProtestant country ; for giv- 
ing me perfect members and senses, a 
sound reason, and an healthful consti- 



592 PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVING. 

tntion — for the means of grace, the as- 
sistances of the Holy Spirit, and for the 
hopes of glory % for ail the known or 
unobserved favours, providences, and 
deliverances, hy which my life hath 
hitherto heeik preserved ; most humbly 
beseeching Thee, iny Cfod and Father, 
to pardon my neglect or abuse of any 
of thy favours, and that I have so very 
much forgotten Thee, in whom I live 
and move, and have my being. 

C*©od Lord, forgive me the great waste 
of my precious time ; the many days 
and years of health, and the many op- 
portunities of doing good, which I 
have lost ; and give me grace, that for 
the time to come I may be truly wise, 
that I may consider my latter end, and 
work out my salvation with fear and 
trembling, ever remembering that the 
night cometh when no man can work/ 
and that the day of my death may be 
better to me than the day of my birth. 

O gracious Crod, grant that before 
Thou t akest from me that breath which 
Thou gavest me, I may truly repent of 
the errors of my life past % that my sins 
may be forgiven, and my pardon sealed 
in heaven ; so that I may have a place 
of rest in Paradise with thy faithful 
servants, till the general resurrection ; 
when the good ILord vouchsafe me a 
better and an everlasting life, through 
Jesus Christ. — Amen. 



PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 593 

•1 Prayer in time of War* 

© Sovereign liord ! who for our sins 
art justly displeased, I prostrate myself 
before Thee, confessing- my own sin and 
the sin of this people ; acknowledging* 
the justice of any scourge which Thou 
shall think fit to bring upon us; and 
trembling to think how much I may 
have contributed towards it* 

Thou hast already spoken to us, both 
by thy judgments and mercies, both by 
the scarcity and plenty of bread, and 
we have not regarded it. Thou hast 
taken away the lives of many, very 
many, in their very sins, by which nu- 
merous widows and fatherless children 
have been left miserable. 

The sins of licentiousness and drunk- 
enness, of swearing, tying, and perjury $ 
of litigiousness, injustice, and defraud- 
ing the public f are made light of. 

The sins of impiety, of profaneness / of 
despising the means of grace and salva- 
tion, are too common amongst us. 

What shall we say to prevail with 
God to avert the judgments which these 
sins deserve ? 

God be merciful unto us, and put a 
stop to this torrent of wickedness, put 
thy fear into all our hearts, that we 
may return to Thee ; that we may re- 
pent, and bring forth fruit meet for re- 

38 



594 PRATEKS AND" THANKSGIVINGS 

pentance; and that iniquity may not 
be our ruin. 

May the dread of thy now threatened 
judgments deter us from evil ;— may thy 
goodness and patience lead us to re- 
pentance z — weaken the power of Satan ? 
— take from among us the spirit of slum- 
ber, of ignorance, and inconsideration. 

ILet every one of us see and feel the 
plague of his own heart, and say, what 
hare I done to bring these evits upon us £ 
So that bringing forth fruits answer- 
able to amendment of life, we may es- 
cape the judgment now hanging over 
us ; and above all, thy judgment 
against sinners in the world to come* 
And this I beg for Jesus Christ his sake. 
—Amen. 



*1 Thanksgiving for Peace* 

© Thou that stillest the noise of the 
seas, the noise of their waves, and the 
tumult of the people ; we bless Thee that 
Thou hast made peace in our borders, 
and called us to adore Thee, as the re- 
pairer of the breach, the restorer of 
paths to dwell in. 

We lament the evils of war, both natu- 
ral and moral % and confess with shame, 
that ever since man became an apostate 
from Thee, he has been an enemy to 
his brother, and that from the death 



THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 595 

of Abel our earth has been a field of 
blood. O let thy word be speedily ac- 
complished. ILet the nations learn war 
no more, but beat their swords into 
plough-shares, and their spears into 
pruning-hooks ; and only emulate each 
other in husbandry, and commerce, 
and science, and religion. 

© Thou Prince of Peace, preside in 
every privy council. May all public 
teachers recommend peace. In private 
life, may we follow peace with all 
men; and cherish the principles and the 
dispositions which will prepare us for 
that world, where we shall enter into 
peace, and the sound of war will be 
heard no more. 



THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 

Our Father, which art in Heaven* 

I beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, 
not for myself only, but for all thy chil* 
dren, that we may all live worthy of 
the relation which we bear to Thee 5 
that we may not sin, knowing that we are 
accounted thine: nor wilfully offend so 
great, so good, so tender a Father : but 
that we may love thee, and fear thee, 
not as slaves, but as children .• that we 
may put our whole trust in Thee, and 
depend upon thine infinite power, wis* 



$96 the lord's prayer explained* 

dom, goodness, and promise to take care 
of us 5 that we may leave it to Tliee to 
choose what i§ best for us ; and bear 
with patience and resignation all thy 
fatherly corrections : and that we may 
serve Thee with comfort and pleasure 
all our days, in hopes of the inheri- 
tance which Thou hast promised thy 
obedient children. 

Hallowed he thy name* 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
glory, and honour, and power ; for 
thou hast created all things, and all 
thy works praise thee. Fill our hearts, 
© €*od, with a zeal for thy glory, that 
we may do Thee honour, by leading 
holy lives, and by paying a great re- 
gard for every thing that belongs to 
Thee; thy name, thy day, thy house, 
thine ordinances, and thy ministers % 
and that others, seeing our good 
works, may glorify our Father which is 
in heaven. 

Thy Kingdom come. 

Enlarge thy Kingdom, O God, and 
deliver the world from the dominion 

and tjruimy of Satan, that the king- 
doms of the earth may become the 
kingdoms of Jesus Christ. Hasten the 
time which thy Spirit hath foretold? 



THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 597 

when all nations whom Thou hast made 
shall worship Thee and glorify thy name. 
Bless the good endeavours of those that 
strive to propagate the gospel of thy 

kingdom % and prepare the hearts of 
all men to receive it. May all such as 
own Thee for their King, become thy 
faithful subjects! — Vouchsafe to reign 
in our hearts, and subdue our will en- 
tirely to thine i and prepare us by thy 
good Spirit for the kingdom of glory. 

Thy W*ill he done in Marth, as it is in 

Heaven. 

Dispose me, and all thy children, O 
Lord and Father, to submit cheerfully 
to whatever thy providence shall order 
for us s hearken not to the corrupt de- 
sires of our hearts 5 but to the voice of 
thine own wisdom, goodness and mer- 
cy. Give us a true knowledge of our 
duty, with an heart disposed to close 
with thy will, whenever it shall be 
made known to us, and to perform it 
with pleasure. Subdue in us whatever 
is contrary to thy holy will, that 
through thy grace we may at last be- 
come perfect, as our heavenly pat- 
tern is. 

€Mve us this day our Daily Bread. 

We look up unto, and depend upon 
thee, O heavenly Father, for all the ne* 



598 

cessaries and conveniences of this present 
life* And may our bodily wants engage 
us to go daily to the throne of grace, 
for the wants of our souls! Let thy 
blessing go along with our honest en- 
deavours, and keep us front all unjust 
ways of bettering our condition. CSive 
us grace to impart to such as are in 
want, of what thou shalt give us more 
than our daily bread ; and with all thy 
other favours, give us, we beseech thee, 
the blessing of a thankful and contented 
mind. 

•And forgive us our Trespasses as we for' 
give them that trespass against us. 

Forgive us those sins, © heavenly Fa- 
ther, which separate us from Thee: 
forgive us every day of our lives ; for 
every day we stand in need of pardon : 
give me, and all Christians, a forgiving 
temper, that we may fulfil this condi- 
tion of our pardon. Thou art good 
and merciful in forgiving us : grant we 
may be so to others ; remembering our 
own infirmities. And may we all live 
ill the same charitable temper, in which 
we hope and desire to die* 

•hid lead us not into Temptation, but de* 
liver us from Evil. 

© God and Father, who hatest ini- 
quity, and knowest our infirmities, 



THE LORD'S PRAYER EXPLAINED. 599 

leave us not to the malice and power of 
the evil one, the devil, to deal with us 
as he pleaseth ; — nor t<^ ourselves, and 
to our own corrupt hearts and lusts, 
lest we rashly run into temptation* 
Keep us out of the way of temptations, 
and under the protection of thy good 
Spirit : suffer us not to be surprised by 
them, nor tempted above what we are 
able to bear. Oive us grace to resist 
them, and to watch and pray daily, 
that we enter not into temptation. 

For thine is the Kingdom, and the JPow* 
er, and the Glory, for ewer and ever. — 
Amen. 

The whole creation is thine, and un- 
der thy government. Thine is the 
power: thou canst do whatsoever we 
pray for. Thou canst cause thy name 
to be sanctified in all the earth, and set 
up thy kingdom in all the world, and 
in our hearts 5 — thou canst cause thy 
will to he done on earth as it is in heaven •• 
and incline us all to submit to it. Thou 
canst give all things needful both for 
our souls and for our bodies. Thou, and 
thou alone, canst forgive us our sins, 
and dispose us to forgive one another : 
Thou canst secure us in the day of 
temptation, and deliver us from the 
power of the devil. To Thee, to Thee 
alone, be glory to all eternity. 



600 A PRATER FOR CHILDREN. 

•1 Prayer for children in ordinary cir- 
cumstances. 

(All the petitions need not be used at the same time.) 

O God, TIion art the lovely Father 
of all mankind. Thou hast implant- 
ed in us the parental instincts ; and 
commanded us to train up our chil- 
dren in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord. We feel our awful re- 
sponsibility, and often exclaim, Who 
is sufficient for these things? But Thou 
givest wisdom to the ignorant and 
power to the faint. Aid 9 O aid us, in 
discharging the duties we owe to those 
whom Thou hast given us and contin- 
ued to us. 

We give them up to Thee, who art 
able to fulfil all our petitions. Rescue 
them from the numberless accidents 
and diseases to which they are exposed, 
tet their tempers be lovely, and meek, 
and kind. I^et their manners be simple 
and engaging. May they be respectful 
towards their superiors, obliging to- 
wards their equals, and condescending 
towards their inferiors. 

I<et not envy and pride and censori- 
riousness render them disdainful to 
others and wretched to themselves. 
May they speak evil of mo one. Upon 
their tongue may there dwell the law 
of kindness. May they hate and ab- 



A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN. 601 

lior lying— with all deceit and hypo- 
crisy. 

Ulay they foe always willing to receive 
instruction ; and be diligent in acqui- 
ring all the knowledge and improve- 
ment that may render them the bless- 
ings and ornaments of society. 

Keep them from evil company. If 
sinners entice them, may they never 
consent ; but early may they take hold 
of the skirt of him that is a Jew, say- 
ing, I will go with you, for I have heard 
that God is with you. 

Let our sons be as plants grown up in 
their youth, and our daughters as cor- 
ner-stones, polished after the simili- 
tude of a palace. 

Pour thy blessing upon our seed, and 
thy Spirit upon our offspring; that 
one may say, I am the Lord's, and 
another call himself by the name of 
•I acob, and another subscribe with his 
own hand, and surname himself by 
the name of Israel. 

We seek not great things for them as 
to this world — but © let them live in 
thy sight 5 let them be numbered with 
thy saints in glory everlasting 5 let 
them be blessed with all spiritual bless- 
ings in heavenly places in Christ. 

Instead of multiplying riches, and 
leaving them incentives to pride, and 
vanity, and idleness, and sensuality, 
and augmenting a thousand fold all 



602 A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL. 

the difficulties of their salvation — may 
we lay up for theni treasure in heaven; 
may we he concerned to leave behind 
us a large inheritance of prayers and 
instructions and examples — with the 
blessing of €*od, that inaketh rich, and 
addeth no sorrow with it. 

If their parents should be taken 
away from them — when father and 
mother forsake them, may the ILord 
take them up. If they should be de- 
prived of their father — be Thou the 
father of the fatherless. If they should 
be deprived of their mother — as one 
whom his mother comforteth, so do 
Thou comfort them. 

Should they be removed from us in 
early life, may the heavenly Shepherd 
gather the lambs with his arm, and 
carry them in his bosom ; and may we 
be prepared to resign them. And if, 
as we submissively implore, their lives 
should be prolonged — may they grow 
up, and prove our comfort and hon- 
our, serve their generation according 
to thy will, and walk before Thee in 
the land of the living. 



•1 Prayer for the spread of the gospel— 
and for Ministers. 

Remember those who are denied our 
advantages of instruction and the pri- 



A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL. 603 

vilege of worshipping thee; be a little 
sanctuary to them in the midst of their 
privations, and let them know that 
Thou art not confined to temples made 
with hands. And O forget not those 
who never enjoyed our privileges ; 
who dwell in habitations of horrid 
cruelty, and perish in ignorance of the 
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with 
eternal glory 5 and let thy way be 
known on earth, thy saving health 
among all nations. Give, we beseech 
Thee, the blessings of the Sabbath ; the 
written word ; the institutions of thy 
house. Bless all the institutions which 
are established to diffuse the scriptures, 
and to send forth missionaries. Re- 
member those who have gone forth to 
preach among the Gentiles the un- 
searchable riches of Christ. Preserve 
their health, their morals, their spirit- 
uality, their zeal: let them be exam- 
ples of all they teach : and be Thou 
their stay and consolation among the 
heathen. May all the events that take 
place in the nations of the earth sub- 
serve the spread of the Redeemer's em- 
pire 5 and may we exult in the period, 
and readily aid every enterprise which 
designs to introduce the period when 
the earth shall be filled with the know- 
ledge of the Lord, as the waters cover 
the sea. So may thy name be hallow- 
ed ; thy kingdom come 5 and thy will 



604 A PRAYER FOR THE SPREAD OP THE GOSPEL. 

be done on earth as it is done in hea- 
ven. 

Send out thy light and thy truth % let 
them lead n§, let them guide us to thy 
holy hill and to thy tabernacles. Bless 
the dispensation of thy gospel by means 
of preaching-. While Paul plants, and 
Apoilos waters, — it is all that they can 
do — give Thou the increase. Clothe 
thy priests with salvation 5 may thy 
ministers be wise to win souls 5 let thy 
people shout for joy % and keep Thou 
those who have believed through grace. 

Bless the congregation in whose devo« 
tions we ordinarily mingle. May we 
hide thy Word in our hearts, that we 
may not sin against Thee. 

Especially Mess thy dear servant on 
whose labours we statedly attend. ILet 
him come forth even unto us in the ful- 
ness of the blessing of the gospel of 
peace ; entering the sanctuary as Aa- 
ron entered the tabernacle when the 
holy oil was poured upon his head and 
the fragrance filled thie place. — Aikd. © 
let him not prove the savour of death 
unto death unto us or unto any that 
hear hiin. And while he labours to 
impart unto us spiritual gifts to the 
em& we may be established, may he be 
comforted together with us by the mu- 
tual faith both of him and us, and re- 
joice in all the consolations of the gos- 
pel of Christ. 



taking up the cross. 605 

Open our ears to discipline ; may we 
obey thy t rut li 5 and always so employ 
the ordinances of the gospel that our 
souls may live. 



Taking up the Cross. 

H Y M N 89. 8. 7.— Disciple. 
1. 

JESUS, I my cross have taken, 

All to leave, and follow Thee 5 
Naked, poor, despis'd, forsaken, 

Thou, from hence, my all shalt be % 
Perish every fond ambition, 

All I've sought, or hop'd, or known, 
Yet how rich is my condition, 

Crod and heav'n are still my own ! 

2. 
JLet the world despise and leave me ; 

They have left my Saviour too ; 
Human hearts and looks deceive me— 

Thou art not, like them, untrue ; 
And whilst Thou shalt smile upon me, 

God of wisdom, love and might, 
Foes may hate, and friends disown me $ 

Show thy face, and all is bright. 

3. 
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure* 

Come, disaster, scorn, and pain, 
In thy service pain is pleasure, 

With thy favour loss is 3 aiii* 



606 TAKING UP THE €ROSS. 

I have call'd Thee Abba, Father, 
I have set my heart on Thee 5 

Storms may howl, and clouds may 
gather, 
All must work for good to me. 

4. 

Man may trouble and distress me, 

'Twill but drive me to thy breast ; 
ILife with trials hard may press me, 

Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 
Oh ! 'tis not in grief to harm me, 

While thy love is left to me 5 
Oh ! 'twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmix'd with Thee. 

5. 
Soul, then know thy full salvation ; 

Rise o'er sin, and fear, and care ; 
Joy to find, in every station, 

Something still to do or bear. 
Think what Spirit dwells within Thee ; 

Think what Father's smiles are thine s 
Think that Jesus died to win thee ; 

Child of heaven, canst Thou repine ? 

6. 
Haste thee on from grace to glory, 

Arm'd by faith, and wing'd by prayer, 
Heaven's eternal days before thee, 

God's own hand shall guide thee 
there. 
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 
Hope shall change to glad fruition, 

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise. 



INDEX TO DEVOTIONS. 



Page 
Preface, ....*.... 5 

Sermon by John Mason, D. D. . . . . . 9 

Sermon by Alexander McClelland, 0. D. . .- , 41 
Sermon by do. do. * * i 87 

Devotional exercises for all occasions, . . . * 135 

Prayer for a spirit of grace and supplication, . . 136 

Instructions how to begin the day with God, . . .141 

A morning prayer for a family, 143 

Morning devotions for an individual, . . . .148 

Evening devotions for a family, 153 

Evening devotions for an individual, . . . . 159 
Instructions about going to bed, . . . . 164 

Pious reflections and aspirations when awaking in the night 

and unable to sleep, . . . * . .166 
A night thought, , 171 

Morning devotions for the Lord's day, . . * ..173* 
Evening devotions for the Lord's day, . . ■ „ 180 

Devotions for the Lord's day morning, . . . .187 
Evening devotions for the Lord's day, . . . 195 

Devotions for Monday morning, ..... 205 
Devotions for Monday evening, . . . . 210 

Devotions for Tuesday morning, 217 

Devotions for Tuesday evening, .... £21 

Devotions for Wednesday morning, .- . . „ 226 

Devotions for Wednesday evening, .... 230 

Devotions for Thursday morning, , 235 

Devotions for Thursday evening, .... 240 

Devotions for Friday morning, . 24$ 

Devotions for Friday evening, . 250 

Devotions for Saturday morning, 256 

Devotions for Saturday evening, .... 260 



608 



INDEX TO DEVOTIONS. 



Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 
Devotions for Monday 
Evening devotions for 
Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 
Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 
Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 
Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 
Morning devotions for 
Evening devotions for 



the Lord's day, 

the Lo/d's day, 

morning, 

Monday, 

Tuesday, 

Tuesday, 

Wednesday, 

Wednesday, 

Thursday, . 

Thursday, 

Friday, 

Friday, . 

Saturday, . 

Saturday, 



Page 
267 
272 
277 
283 
289 
294 
299 
306 
312 
317 
323 
329 
334 
340 



PART II. 

Supplication for grace rightly to hear the word of God, . 347 

Instructions how to hear God's holy word with profit, . 350 
Supplications for grace rightly to hear and improve the 

word of God, . . . . . . .357 

A prayer of an humble believer, under dejection of spirit, 
in consequence of not being able to hear the word of 

God with that attention and interest which he desires, 361 

A prayer after hearing a gospel sermon, . . . 365 

Sacraments of the Church of God, .... 370 

Instructions, . . . . . . . .371 

Sacrament of Baptism, . . . . . 372 

Infant Baptism, ........ 376 

Adult Baptism, ....... 382 

Communicant's Companion, ..... 386 

Instructions in relation to a worthy reception of the Lord's 

Supper, 403 

Self-examination and confession of sins, before approach- 
ing the Lord's Supper, 415 

Encouragement on the day of the Lord's Supper, . 428 
Devotions when receiving the Lord's Supper, . . 431 
Holy ejaculations when the believing communicant ap- 
proaches to the Lord's Supper, . . 439 



INDEX TO DEVOTIONS, 

Devotional exeicises after the Lord's Supper, 
Prayer of one who has just been at the Lord's table, but 
who has enjoyed little or no refreshing from the pre- 
sence of the Lord, in participating of this sacred or 
dinailce, . . . . . 



609 

Page 

441 



445 



PART III. 

Containing Instructions, Hymns and Prayers for various 
occasions, ....... 

Instructions and advice how to address sick persons, 

Prayer of a sick person for the forgiveness of sins, 

Prayer for entire submission to the will of God in sickness, 

Prayer in which the sick may apply unto himself the twelve 
articles of the Christian .faith, 

Instructions for the sick, ..... 

Hymns, prayers and meditations for various occasions, 

Morning devotions for Christmas, 

Evening devotions for Christmas, . 

Devotions for the last evening of the Old Year, 

.Morning devotions for the New Year, 

Morning devotions for Good Friday, 

Evening devctions for Good Friday, 

Morning devotions for Easter Sunday, 

Evening devotions for Easter Sunday, . 

Morning devotions for Whitsunday, . 

Evening devotions for Whitsunday, 

Evening devotions after a Funeral, . 

Morning devotions for a Fast Day, 

Evening devotions for a Fast Day, . 

Morning devotions for a day of Thanksgiving, 

Evening devotions for a day of Thanksgiving, 

Prayers at Table, . . . 

Prayers and thanksgivings for particular occasions,. 

A morning prayer to be used by a child at home, 

An evening prayer to be used by a child at home, 

A prayer for a youth going from home, . 

A prayer for a servant coming into the family, 

A short prayer on going into the seat at Church, 

39 



451 
451 
459 
463 

474 
482 
488 
488 
492 
496 
502 
509 
514 
519 
523 
527 
534 
540 
547 
552 
557 
562 
567 
571 
571 
572 
573 
574 
575 



610 



INDEX TO HYMNS. 



A prayer before leaving the seat at Church, 

Addresses for the seasons, 

Spring, .... 

Summer, . 

Autumn, .... 

Winter, .... 

A time of thunder and lightning, 

A prayer for rain, 

A thanksgiving for rain, 

A prayer for fair weather, 

A thanksgiving for a good harvest, 

A prayer in view of journeying, 

A thanksgiving for a safe return from a journey, 

A thanksgiving for the return of a friend from sea, 

A prayer for a new married party, 

A prayer for a woman approaching the time of travail, 

Thanksgiving for safe delivery in child birth, 

A prayer for one under sickness, 

Thanksgiving for recovery from sickness, . 

A prayer for a birth day, 

A prayer in time of war, .... 

A thanksgiving for peace, 

The Lord's Prayer explained, 

A prayer for children in ordinary circumstances, 

A prayer for the spread of the gospel — and for ministers, 



Page 
575 
576 

577 

578 

579 

580 

581 

582 

583 

583 

584 

585 

586 

587 

587 

588 

58 . 

59 

59( 

59 

59 

58 

596 

600 

602S 



INDEX TO THE HYMNS. 



A charge to keep I have, 
Almighty Sovereign of the skies, 
Arise, my soul ! with rapture rise ! 
Awake my soul, and with the sun, 
Behold, the sun adorns the sky, 
Begone, my worldly cares away, 
Blest be th' Eternal ! Infinite ! 
Come Holy Spirit heavenly Dove, 
Come dearest Lord and feed thy sheep, 







293 


• 


• 


562 
217 


• 


• 


205 

282 


• 


• 


345 

502 


• 


• 


141 
18" 



INDEX TO HYMNS 



611 



Come thou fount of every blessing, 

Dear Lord, and shall thy Spirit rest, . 

Dread Sovereign, let my evening song, . 

Ere I sleep, for every favour, 

Father of mercies, in thy word, 

Father of our dying Lord, 

Frequent the day of God returns, . 

From ev'ry stormy wind that blows, . 

From Greenland's icy mountains, 

Glory to Thee, my God, this night, . 

God of my life my morning song, . 

Great God, to Thee my evening song, 

Great God, indulge my humble claim, . 

Great Ruler of the earth and skies, . 

Hail the blest morn ! see the great Mediator, 

Hail, thou happy morn, so glorious, . 

Happy soul, thy days are ended, . 

Hosanna, with a cheerful sound, 

Hark ! the voice of love and mercy, 

How can I sleep whilst angels sing, . 

I know that my Redeemer lives, . 

I love to steal awhile away, 

If life's pleasures charm thee, 

In God the Father I believe, 

In sleep's serene oblivion laid, , 

Jesus, Thou hast bid us pray, 

Jesus I my cross have taken, 

Lord I am thine, entirely thine, 

Lord in the morning Thou shalt hear, . 

Lord, Thou wilt hear me when I pray, 

Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise Thee, 

My days, my weeks, my months, my years 

My God (he spring of all my joys, 

My Saviour God, my Sov'reign Prince, 

My soul lies cleaving to the dust, . 

No farther go to night but stay, 

Not from the dust afflictions grow, 

Now from the altar of our hearts, 

bless the Lord, my soul ! . 



340 

527 

240 

230 

347 

357 

180 

299 

534 

210 

140 

195 

334 

557 

492 

173 

486 

256 

431 

171 

523 

345 

482 

474 

226 

365 

605 

403 

267 

159 

288 

540 

294 

370 

361 

283 

463 

153 

441 



613 



INDEX TO HYMNS, 



O for a closer walk with God, . 

Once more my eyes behold the day, 

O God, thy gifts of tender love, . 

Once more my soul the rising day, 

Our Lord is risen from the dead, . 

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, . 

Precious Bible ] what a treasure, . 

Safely through another week, 

See how the rising sun, 

Show pity Lord, O Lof d forgive, 

Sing, my soul, his wondrous love, 

Softly now the light of day, . 

Sweet is the work my God my King, 

See, gracious Lord, before thy throne, 

See the Lord of glory dying, 

Thee we adore, eternal name, 

The day is past and gone, . 

The sacraments are Holy signs, 

The flow'ry spring at God's command, 

There is an hour of peaceful rest, . 

There's a friend above ail others, 

Thussaith the mercy of the Lord, . 

'Tis finish'd, the Redeemer cried, 

To God the universal King, . 

To Thee in each bright morning, 

To Thee let my first ofPrings rise, . 

To Zion's hill I lift mine eyes, 

Trembling before thine awful throne, 

'Twas the commission of the Lord, 

5 Twas on that dark, that doleful night, 

Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, . 

Upwards I lift mine eyes, 

Vain delusive world adieu, 

When, O dear Jesus, when shall I, 

What strange perplexities arise, 

When restless on my bed I lie, . 

While shepherds watch their flocks by night, 

When the blest day of Pentecost, 

Ye that obey the immortal King, . 

Ye wretched, hungry, starving poor. . 



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